By Maggie Johnson
December 29, 2024
Image Credit: “www.meretmarine.com,” available at Yahoo Images (12/29/2024).
Estonia is urgently calling for a revamp of international maritime law to address the growing threat to undersea infrastructure such as power cables and pipelines. Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta emphasized the need for immediate modernization following recent damage to cables connecting Estonia and Finland.
This week, Finnish authorities detained a ship carrying Russian oil in the Baltic Sea on suspicion that it caused a power cable outage between the two countries and damaged or severed four internet lines. In response, the Estonian navy deployed forces to safeguard a parallel power line.
Acknowledging the limitations of existing laws, the Estonian government plans to formally propose updates to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by February. "We aim to urge the international maritime community to modernize its legal framework," Pakosta told Reuters. She stressed that clearer legislation would reduce disputes over underwater damage and help avoid escalation to international courts.
Pakosta pointed out that current maritime law, with some provisions dating back centuries, primarily addresses piracy and unauthorized broadcasting—issues above the waterline. However, acts like intentionally dragging anchors to damage undersea infrastructure are not explicitly covered.
By comparison, existing United Nations maritime conventions grant nations clear rights to seize vessels and prosecute those involved in piracy. She suggested that a similar approach could be adapted to safeguard vital underwater systems.
The urgency of the matter has been underscored by recent incidents involving undersea infrastructure. In October 2023, Estonia and Finland accused the Hong Kong-flagged vessel Newnew Polar Bear of damaging a natural gas pipeline and telecommunications cables linking the two nations. Despite requests from Estonian investigators, China declined to cooperate in examining the vessel. Similarly, Swedish authorities reported that China denied them permission to inspect the Yi Peng 3, another Chinese-flagged ship suspected of damaging two Baltic undersea cables. These incidents highlight the crucial need for international cooperation in addressing underwater damage within the current legal framework.
Estonia's proposed changes would focus on establishing specific provisions for protecting undersea infrastructure. Such amendments could include penalties for deliberate damage and procedures for investigating cross-border incidents. "It's essential to bring clarity to these gray areas to ensure the security of critical infrastructure and minimize risks of conflict," Pakosta added.
These developments reflect broader concerns over the vulnerability of undersea systems, which are essential for global energy and communications networks. The increasing frequency of such incidents has made it evident that the international community must adapt maritime law to the realities of modern technology and geopolitics, or face potentially severe consequences.
Comments