Key points:

• Norway seized the Silver Dania, a Norwegian-owned and Russian-crewed ship, on suspicion of causing serious damage to an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden.
• No evidence linked the ship to the cable damage, leading to its release after authorities completed their investigation.
• This incident has heightened concerns over potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure, prompting increased military vigilance in the Baltic Sea by NATO and European nations.

Norwegian police detained the ship Silver Dania on Thursday following a request from Latvian authorities. The vessel was suspected of being involved in damage to an underwater fiber optic cable linking Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland. Authorities acted on previous damage discovered to the cable, which was detected earlier in the week. The ship, sailing between Russian ports Saint Petersburg and Murmansk, was brought into Tromsø for inspection and investigation.

As investigations progressed, police conducted searches of the ship and interrogated the crew, all of whom are Russian nationals. Tormod Fossmark, CEO of the ship’s owner Silver Sea, expressed surprise about the allegations, insisting the vessel did not engage in any activities that could damage the cable. “We did not have any anchors out or do anything,” Fossmark stated, emphasizing that the ship’s tracking data confirmed a normal passage.

Authorities later released the Silver Dania after determining that there was insufficient evidence to link it to the cable damage. Tromsø police noted, “The investigation will continue, but we see no reason for the ship to remain in Tromsø any longer,” as they had failed to find any links to the sabotage. This investigation reveals the growing concern over the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure amid prior incidents linked to Russian activity, including the sabotage of pipelines and cables in the region.

Norway's actions reflect a broader pattern of caution in the Baltic Sea, where NATO has recently augmented its naval presence to monitor undersea cables, vital for global communications. Due to various incidents concerning potential sabotage, many nations are on high alert for any future threats.

For further details on the initial detention and release of the ship, see the full coverage by AP News.