Captain held in detention in Hong Kong due to accusations of causing damage to a pipeline in the Baltic Sea
A Hong Kong-flagged container ship, known as the Newnew Polar Bear, has been under suspicion for causing significant damage to a critical Baltic Sea gas pipeline connecting Estonia and Finland back in October 2023.
The captain of this vessel, Wan Wenguo, faced the music at Eastern Court on a chargesheet that included criminal damage and alleged violations of local marine by-laws during the Newnew Polar Bear's voyage from October to December of 2023.
According to prosecutors, Wan, a 43-year-old from mainland China, is responsible for the substantial damages inflicted on the 77km Balticconnector, a crucial energy source for Finland. During the ship's transit through the Gulf of Finland on October 8, 2023, the vessel is believed to have damaged the gas pipeline and a nearby telecoms cable as well.[2][3][4]
Court documents also accuse Wan of disregarding navigation safety protocols by insufficient anchoring and neglecting to submit daily reports to the ship's owner, thereby breaching regulations.[5]
With the next hearing set for early July to allow investigators some breathing room, Wan was remanded in custody after confirming he had no bail applications.[6]
Interestingly, while the Newnew Polar Bear seems to be linked to the pipeline damage, it isn't crystal clear whether the container ship played a direct role in damaging the nearby telecoms cables. However, these incidents appear to be part of a larger, seemingly coordinated assault on undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.[2][3]
A jaw-dropping revelation indicates that the Newnew Polar Bear was missing its anchor when it docked later, lending weight to the suspicions that the ship might have been involved in the devastation.[3] However, the ship managed to slip through the net and sailed away undetained after the incident.[4]
Such attacks on undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea hint towards a dangerous, malicious plot that warrants close scrutiny.
- The damage inflicted on the BalticConnector, which connects Estonia and Finland, is attributed to the Hong Kong-flagged container ship, the Newnew Polar Bear.
- Wan Wenguo, the captain of the Newnew Polar Bear, is under investigation for damages caused to the BalticConnector and violations of marine by-laws during his vessel's voyage.
- Despite the Newnew Polar Bear's suspected involvement in damages to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline and a telecoms cable, it is questionable whether the ship directly contributed to the damage of the telecoms cables.
- The incidents involving the Newnew Polar Bear's potential attack on undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea might be part of a larger, coordinated assault, raising concerns about a malicious plot that requires further investigation.
