The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland has found that gas pipeline damage that occurred on October 8 was caused by a dragging anchor.
General Head of Investigation Detective Superintendent, Risto Lohi, described that on the seabed, a 1.5 to 4 metre-wide dragging trail is seen to lead to the point of damage in the gas pipeline. In the distance of a few metres from the gas pipeline damage point, there was an anchor, which is believed to have caused the wide dragging trail and the damage itself.
From the finding point of the anchor onward, a narrow dragging trace is to be seen, and it matches size-wise with the part connecting the anchor to the chain.
These observations, in connection with data analysed on the traffic of the vessels, have corroborated the main line of investigation concerning the role of the vessel NewNew Polar Bear of a Chinese shipping company and flying the flag of Hong Kong in the incident, NBI notes.
At the press conference, Lohi stated that New Polar Bear had been contacted several times, but they were not willing to cooperate. To reach the vessel, international cooperation has been carried out with the Chinese authorities in order to continue the investigations into the vessel as well.
Particular attention will be paid to investigating if there has been any premeditation or negligence involved in the sequence of events.
