Cargo vessel Fitburg leaves Finland as authorities lift seizure

The cargo vessel Fitburg, which was detained late last month for suspected damage of a subsea telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea, left Finland on Monday morning after the Finnish authorities lifted the seizure, said police in a press release.

The vessel departed from the Kantvik harbour at about 11:00 a.m. and left Finland's territorial waters.

“The Finnish and Estonian police have completed their work on board the vessel, and the seizure can therefore be lifted. Yesterday, Sunday, January 11, the Helsinki District Court remanded a crew member of a ship named Fitburg in custody pending retrial. Some of the ship's crew remain under a travel ban,” said Tactical Leader of the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Risto Lohi.

The Border Guard monitored the departure of the vessel from Finnish territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone.

“The Finnish authorities took swift action and prevented any further damage from occurring in the Gulf of Finland. Authorities have the capacity to respond to cable damage and other similar situations and work together seamlessly,” said Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku.

Earlier on January 7, The National Bureau of Investigation seized the cargo vessel Fitburg.

The Helsinki District Court on January 4 ordered a crew member of the vessel Fitburg to be placed in pre-trial detention.

Earlier on January 3, the police sought pre-trial detention of a crew member of the cargo vessel Fitburg.

On January 2, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has setup a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with Estonia to probe into the suspected damage of telecommunications cable.

Earlier on January 1, the police arrested two individuals of the cargo vessel Fitburg and imposed travel ban on two other persons.

Finnish authorities detained the freighter Fitburg on suspicion of damaging undersea data cables in the Gulf of Finland early December 31, 2025.