Police Have Interviewed Crew Members of the Fitburg Vessel

The police are cooperating with various authorities in the investigation of the case. The investigative actions are ongoing, including interviews and forensic examinations.

The police have made progress in the criminal investigative actions concerning the damage to the telecommunications cable owned by Elisa. The damage to the cable is suspected to have been caused by a vessel named Fitburg, which has a crew of 14 members on board. The police have arrested two individuals and two other persons have been subjected to a travel ban. They were interviewed on Thursday, and the interviews continue on Friday, 02 January.

- The interviews have clarified the course of events and the different roles of the crew members, says the Tactical Leader, Detective Chief Superintendent Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation. 

The police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Criminal offences may change as the investigation progresses. 

The National Bureau of Investigation has setup a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with Estonia. The Joint Investigation Team enables seamless cooperation with the Estonian authorities. 

The police have continued the crime scene investigation on the seabed near the damaged cable, in cooperation with other authorities. The Border Guard’s patrol vessel Turva is leading the operational activities of the subsea crime scene investigation in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation. The investigation makes use of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard's diverse underwater equipment, including submersible robots, side-scan sonar, and multi-beam echo sounders The Defence Forces are also providing assistance in the investigation of the cable damage. 

Port State Control Inspection of the Vessel by Traficom Completed

The actions conducted aboard the vessel as part of the port state control inspection initiated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) on Wednesday, 31 December, were completed on 01 January 2026. The inspection ensured that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions.

- The vessel is in normal condition for its age. During the inspection, we tested equipment and assessed the condition and compliance of the vessel's spaces, equipment, supplies, and systems. We also monitored the safety drill conducted by the vessel's crew," says Sanna Sonninen, Maritime Director at Traficom. 

The number of deficiencies observed is typical for the vessel’s age, and the deficiencies are of a minor nature No deficiencies were found that would jeopardise safety. The report on the results of the port state control inspection will be completed next week.