We have found no evidence that the crew of the Yi Peng vessel intentionally damaged three cables on the bottom of the Baltic Sea in November 2024, the Swedish State Accident Investigation Board (SHK) reported on Tuesday, warning that this conclusion may be subject to a risk of error due to “limited access to information”.
A representative of SHK boarded the Yi Peng 3 ship as an observer in December last year. The inspection was carried out together with representatives of the Chinese authorities, who led the main investigation. As reported by Jonas Baeckstrand, who investigated the case, the Chinese did not provide the Swedish side with access to electronic materials – navigation maps and the black box.
Chinese experts have only confirmed that the harbor anchor, lowered from the bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, was dragged for 180 nautical miles (over 330 km) for a day and a half.
“There are many indications of an accident, but it is obvious that if it is not an accident, it is done in such a way as to avoid detection,” said Jonas Baeckstrand of SHK.
The opinion of the Swedish SHK commission may have an impact on the course of the investigation, initiated in the autumn by the prosecutor's office in Stockholm in connection with a possible act of sabotage. However, it does not mean an automatic end to the investigation.
Two telecommunications cables connecting Lithuania with Sweden and Finland with Germany were severed in mid-November 2024. Proceedings were also initiated by the authorities of Germany, Finland and Lithuania. The ship was only stopped by the Danish Navy in the Kattegat Strait several days after the incident. The vessel was leaving the Baltic Sea at the time.
From Stockholm Daniel Zyśk (PAP)
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