Ship suspected of sabotage is detained by Norwegian Coast Guard

This story is being updated 

The Police in Tromsø informs that it detained the Silver Dania on a request from Latvian authorities. The ship crew is all Russian citizens, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reports.

It was the Coast Guard ship KV Bison that late Thursday night apprehended the 113 metre long reefer.

Ship traffic data show how the suspicious ship days sailed straight northwards before it around midnight the 30 January made a sharp turn eastwards towards the port of Tromsø. Similar data show how Coast Guard ship KV Bison was waiting in the area before it at the same time sailed to Tromsø.

According to the Police, the Silver Dania is suspected of serious sabotage in the Baltic Sea. 

Tromsø Police representatives on Friday morning told journalists that a search was in process on board the vessel and that that crew members are being questioned. There are also digital investigations in the case, the police said in a brief press conference. 

According to the police, the the Silver Dania is one of several ships suspected of involvement in the damage of the cable.

The vessel is owned by Norwegian company Fjord Shipping. Several of the company's ships are cooperating closely with Russian partners. One of them - the Silver Copenhagen - is involved in landing of Russian fish to European ports.

An investigative story published by the Barents Observer shows how the Norwegian reefer is cooperating with Russian fishery company Norebo. When Norebo's reefer Belomorye was rejected entry to Dutch ports because of suspected involvement in espionage, the catch was taken over by Silver Copenhagen and subsequently delivered to the Dutch port.

The Silver Dania was built in 1989 and has previously sailed under the names Trans Dania, TR and TX G6 C