Latest news with #underseaCables
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Inside the mission to stop Putin's 'ghost ships' wreaking havoc on the seas
On Christmas Day last year, Finland and Estonia got an unwanted shock. A power line that ran along the seabed between the two countries was damaged, slashing electricity flow by two thirds. The next day, Finnish police boarded and seized a ship carrying Russian oil bound for Turkey on suspicion of cutting the line along with four nearby internet cables. The Cook Islands-registered ship, named the Eagle S, was later found to have dragged its anchor along the ocean floor for more than 100 kilometres. European Union leaders labelled it sabotage and levelled blame at Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" or "ghost ships" which Moscow uses to avoid Western sanctions imposed on its cargo exports. The incident has sprung NATO allies into action, with joint forces from 11 member nations signing up to tackle sabotage at sea. The ABC gained rare access to the mission and headed out with Dutch and Belgian crews on the Baltic Sea off the coast of Lithuania — a former Soviet country which is now a key Western ally. Taking off from London before dawn, it took two flights and all day to reach the small port city of Klaipeda where we met the convoy. Undersea cables are a vital part of global infrastructure, carrying electricity and data between countries and continents. There are hundreds of them around the world. Commander Erik Kockx has been charged with overseeing this operation in the Baltic Sea. "There have been some incidents with pipelines and cables. We are here to prevent that from happening again," he told the ABC. "The consequences of cutting an underwater sea cable, first of all, it's very expensive to repair it, secondly if it's an energy or data cable, you cut people off from energy or information." Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Finland and Sweden joined NATO, making Russia the only country bordering the Baltic Sea without membership of the security alliance. Since then, multiple cables have been cut or damaged. "Anybody who has any intentions of inflicting damage or harm to any infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region should be aware that it will be observed, it will be monitored, it will be reported, and it will not remain without consequence," Commander Kockx said. Russia's second-largest city and port of St Petersburg is the country's main access point to the Baltic Sea's critical shipping corridor. Further south and wedged between Lithuania and Poland, is the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which also hosts strategic port capacity but more crucially is home to a large military build-up of Kremlin forces. The NATO missions are designed to be a deterrent, with a bigger military presence on the surface and eyes underwater inspecting for sabotage. Small underwater drones, remotely operated vehicles and divers are being sent down to build a map of the seabed. Merte Peeters is the commanding officer of the Dutch ship, the Snellius, which is the lead vessel in the mission. "I think it's a two-legged solution, one we show people who basically aren't paying attention sailing around the Baltic, hey someone's looking at you, you are being noticed," he said. "And to the other countries in the vicinity you show that we are present." Most of the accusations of sabotage involve a ship dragging its anchor along the seabed for long distances, in some cases hundreds of kilometres. Two lines were severed within 24 hours of each other in the month before the Christmas Day incident. The Arelion cable between the Swedish island of Gotland and Lithuania was severed and then the C-Lion 1 cable was damaged between the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and the German port of Rostock. A Chinese ship, the Yi Peng 3, is suspected of dragging its anchor over both the cables in a separate act of Russian sabotage. In October 2023, another Chinese ship, the Newnew Polar Bear, was identified as the main suspect for rupturing a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. The Chinese government admitted the ship was at fault but rejected the suggestion it was intentional. "If I would drop my anchor for this vessel, I would notice, of course," Commanding Officer Peeters said. The Yi Peng 3 and the Eagle S are both suspected Russian ghost ships which have become a pivotal tool in Moscow continuing oil exports in defiance of Western sanctions. By mid-2024, this clandestine armada was responsible for shipping more than 70 per cent of Russia's oil and its by-products. The European Union last month slapped more sanctions on the covert ships and increased the number of banned vessels to 342, although some experts predict the fleet consists of more than 700. Continuing oil exports through undercover means has been critical to keeping Russia's economy afloat and funding its war efforts in Ukraine. Some estimates predict Moscow has spent more than $15 billion building up the fleet, which are often old and rundown ships, which sail without insurance and flags, allowing them to evade detection and sanctions. They also "go dark" by disabling their tracking transponders, making it difficult for authorities to follow their movements. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the use of shadow ships and rejected claims it was responsible for damaging undersea cables in the Baltic. With investigations ongoing, NATO isn't keen to point fingers or inflame tensions but some countries in the region including Estonia, Finland and Germany, have blamed Russia's shadow fleet. But what started as covert shipments to prop up an ailing economy has morphed into a so-called "hybrid war" or "shadow conflict", which are actions taken to destabilise democracies and cause chaos and fear. On another vessel in the NATO mission, Commanding Officer of Belgian ship, Lobelia, Gill Priem tells the ABC his crew have adapted to battle this new type of conflict. "NATO has to adapt to the evolving geopolitical situation in the world," he said. "Since the increased presence of NATO in this region ... we did not have any accidents occurring in this particular region." The alleged acts of sabotage fall short of all-out military action but force countries to react and beef up security measures. While the mission until now has been focused on protecting the hundreds of kilometres of critical cables crisscrossing the seabed, Russia last month upped the stakes. When a suspected Russian shadow ship, named the Jaguar, and under sanction by British authorities, entered Estonian waters, the navy attempted to stop it. The crew on board refused and then the Estonian warship was then met with a Russian fighter jet, which flew into NATO airspace for close to a minute. "They entered the NATO airspace, this is serious," Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys told the ABC. "They escalated in the military way, from now on, we cannot say that it is civilian activities. "They were showing their intent to use this force." It was the first time Russia has shown support for an alleged shadow ship. "This reckless use of hundreds of vessels for the purpose to fuel the war machine of Russia, it put us in an explosive mix, and we have to control all of it," he said. "We see how one authoritarian regime wants to avoid the sanctions and is just exploiting all the weak parts of it." The minister, who's been highly critical of the West's response to Russian aggression, has no doubt of Moscow's intentions in the region. "Russia is preparing itself for long-term confrontation and conflict with the West," he said. "If we are weak, if we are not resilient and if we are not resolute, it means we are increasing the opportunities for Russia to use the capabilities for their intent." Intent and sabotage combined make an explosive mix which is sparking fears of a broader European conflict.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
High Risk and High Reward of Undersea Cables
Undersea cables carry 99% of the world's internet traffic, but how do these cables work, and are they worth the investment? Google's first employee of its subsea unit, Jayne Stowell weighs in on how the company paved the way for hyperscalers to take over an industry once controlled by telecom giants. (Source: Bloomberg)
CNA
6 days ago
- General
- CNA
Evolving security threats shaping the way countries deal with defence strategies: IISS report
Evolving security threats — from cyberspace to the seabed — are shaping the way countries deal with defence strategies. This includes protecting a network of undersea cables that carries 95% of the world's internet and communication data. Leong Wai Kit breaks down key findings from a new report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which will help shape discussions among the world's defence experts at this weekend's Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The Royal Navy drone submarine designed to stop Russia blacking out Britain in battle beneath the waves
The Royal Navy will launch a fleet of 'drone' submarines to protect vital undersea cables from Russian 'shadow fleet' attacks in what Minsters have called a move to 'pre-war footing'. A prototype of the unmanned 19-tonne vessel, named Excalibur, was launched at Devonport naval base last week and will pave the way for production of an entire squadron. They are designed to safeguard vital subsea infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Defence, and will be central to the Government's new defence plans. Underwater fibre-optic cables which lie on the ocean floor allow for global communication and internet connectivity between continents, whilst other cables are responsible for carrying electricity. Excalibur will now embark on two years of trials as the Royal Navy seeks to strengthen its capabilities in the 'underwater battlespace' amid increasingly bold incursions from Russia 's 'dark fleet' which transmit false data to dodge detection. It comes as the Government is set to reveal the results of its strategic defence review (SDR), which is expected to focus on tightening up homeland security, protecting national assets and traditional war-fighting capabilities. Ministers are expected to emphasise a need for Britain to move to a 'pre-war footing' of increased military preparedness as fears of Russia extending its attacks beyond Ukraine grow. It is anticipated that measures to protect our undersea cables from attack will be highlighted in the SDR, including plans to introduce a volunteer 'home guard' to shield locations where the cables run on to land. A MoD spokesman said the SDR will set out 'a path for the next decade to transform the armed forces to ensure we're prepared for emerging threats, making Britain secure at home and strong abroad'. Previous attacks on key underwater infrastructure have raised concerns over the level of security in place. In 2022, a series of underwater explosions targeted the Nord Stream pipeline causing gas leaks on three out of four natural gas pipelines, rendering them inoperable. Fears were ramped up again last year when a Russian spy ship entered an area of the Irish Sea where critical pipelines and cables located in the Baltic Sea were damaged. These two incidents saw the introduction of a 10-country push, led by the UK, to monitor suspicious Russian ships in the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea. Excalibur is battery-powered and was built by Plymouth-based MSubs as part of a £15m contract. It boasts a range of 1,000 miles and measures 39 feet long by 6.5 feet wide, making it the biggest unmanned submersible ever operated by a European navy. But it still fits into a standard 40ft shipping container, making it easier to transport. Batteries will be carried in packs down each side of the sub and it features two pressurised compartments to carry computing and control equipment. A handout picture released by the Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) in London on January 22, 2025 shows Royal Navy Royal Navy of RFA Proteus (R) patrolling near the Russian vessel Yantar (L), in November 2024 Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey (R) talks to Commanding Officer of RFA Proteus, Captain Martin Jones (L) as he sits at the dynamic positioning desk on the bridge during his visit to RFA Proteus on February 20, 2025 The compartments are separated by a central storage bay which could carry mines, deployable sensors and smaller underwater drones. Excalibur will have deeper diving capabilities than any of the Navy's manned subs and is designed to allow the storage section to be doubled if necessary. For example, extra room could be added to store more batteries to extend the amount of time it can spend at sea. The Royal Navy said testing of the craft will strengthen 'efforts to remain ahead of potential foes beneath the waves, safeguarding key infrastructure, protecting British and allied ships and submarines and gathering intelligence'. Excalibur is expected to influence the design of a hunter killer submarine which will be built as part of the Aukus security pact with Australia and the US, with representatives from both countries attending its launch last week. The new 'drone' subs will supplement the Proteus, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship used to launch smaller underwater surveillance vessels and devices which was launched in 2023. The Government's defence plans are also set to put forward the idea of an increased role for private investment. This could encourage global tech companies to help fund the protection of the cables - which are vital to their business - with radars, sensors and underwater vehicles. Defence Secretary John Healey last week announced the establishment of a Defence Industrial Joint Council, which will coordinate public-private investment. The council will is set to meet for the first time in June.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Drone submarines to enhance Royal Navy's undersea cable security
The Royal Navy will launch a fleet of 'drone' submarines to protect vital undersea cables from Russian 'shadow fleet' attacks in what Minsters have called a move to 'pre-war footing'. A prototype of the unmanned 19-tonne vessel, named Excalibur, was launched at Devonport naval base last week and will pave the way for production of an entire squadron. They are designed to safeguard vital subsea infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Defence, and will be central to the Government's new defence plans. Underwater fibre-optic cables which lie on the ocean floor allow for global communication and internet connectivity between continents, whilst other cables are responsible for carrying electricity. Excalibur will now embark on two years of trials as the Royal Navy seeks to strengthen its capabilities in the 'underwater battlespace' amid increasingly bold incursions from Russia's 'dark fleet' which transmit false data to dodge detection. It comes as the Government is set to reveal the results of its strategic defence review (SDR), which is expected to focus on tightening up homeland security, protecting national assets and traditional war-fighting capabilities. Ministers are expected to emphasise a need for Britain to move to a 'pre-war footing' of increased military preparedness as fears of Russia extending its attacks beyond Ukraine grow. It is anticipated that measures to protect our undersea cables from attack will be highlighted in the SDR, including plans to introduce a volunteer 'home guard' to shield locations where the cables run on to land. A MoD spokesman said the SDR will set out 'a path for the next decade to transform the armed forces to ensure we're prepared for emerging threats, making Britain secure at home and strong abroad'. Previous attacks on key underwater infrastructure have raised concerns over the level of security in place. In 2022, a series of underwater explosions targeted the Nord Stream pipeline causing gas leaks on three out of four natural gas pipelines, rendering them inoperable. Fears were ramped up again last year when a Russian spy ship entered an area of the Irish Sea where critical pipelines and cables located in the Baltic Sea were damaged. These two incidents saw the introduction of a 10-country push, led by the UK, to monitor suspicious Russian ships in the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea. Excalibur is battery-powered and was built by Plymouth-based MSubs as part of a £15m contract. It boasts a range of 1,000 miles and measures 39 feet long by 6.5 feet wide, making it the biggest unmanned submersible ever operated by a European navy. But it still fits into a standard 40ft shipping container, making it easier to transport. Batteries will be carried in packs down each side of the sub and it features two pressurised compartments to carry computing and control equipment. The compartments are separated by a central storage bay which could carry mines, deployable sensors and smaller underwater drones. Excalibur will have deeper diving capabilities than any of the Navy's manned subs and is designed to allow the storage section to be doubled if necessary. For example, extra room could be added to store more batteries to extend the amount of time it can spend at sea. The Royal Navy said testing of the craft will strengthen 'efforts to remain ahead of potential foes beneath the waves, safeguarding key infrastructure, protecting British and allied ships and submarines and gathering intelligence'. Excalibur is expected to influence the design of a hunter killer submarine which will be built as part of the Aukus security pact with Australia and the US, with representatives from both countries attending its launch last week. The new 'drone' subs will supplement the Proteus, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship used to launch smaller underwater surveillance vessels and devices which was launched in 2023. The Government's defence plans are also set to put forward the idea of an increased role for private investment. This could encourage global tech companies to help fund the protection of the cables - which are vital to their business - with radars, sensors and underwater vehicles. Defence Secretary John Healey last week announced the establishment of a Defence Industrial Joint Council, which will coordinate public-private investment. The council will is set to meet for the first time in June.
