Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday that China was cooperating in Finland’s investigation of the Hong Kong-flagged NewNew Polar Bear vessel’s position within the Oct. 8 injury to the Balticconnector pipeline.
Finnish police main the felony investigation have named the NewNew Polar Bear container provider because the prime suspect in damaging the fuel pipeline early on Oct. 8, saying it was too early to inform if this was an accident or a deliberate act.
A big anchor, believed to belong to the NewNew Polar Bear, was discovered close to the pipeline, and the investigators stated the pipe was probably damaged because it was dragged throughout the ocean mattress.
“We have opened diplomatic discussions with the Chinese and also we have started cooperation with Chinese authorities. And they have promised, and they have said, that they want to do cooperation,” Petteri Orpo informed reporters in Oslo.
“We are starting to work together. And the next few days I think (will) show how it goes. But now we have to be patient. We have to get a clear picture of what has happened before (drawing) any conclusions.”
China has stated it was keen to supply the required data in accordance with worldwide legislation.
Finland’s fuel pipeline operator Gasgrid stated individually on Tuesday it had accomplished its inspection of the complete pipe, and not discovered any extra injury to it than the one confirmed on Oct. 10.
Balticconnector map https://tmsnrt.rs/3FegRZS
(Reuters – Reporting by Gwladys Fouche, further reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, enhancing by Terje Solsvik)
