Captain of Hong Kong ship charged with damage to Baltic gas pipeline
Chinese national, 43, facing charges in 2023 damage to Balticconnector gas pipeline, maritime safety breaches
FILE PHOTO
ISTANBUL
The captain of a container ship registered in Hong Kong has been taken into custody in Hong Kong for damaging a vital gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea that connects Estonia and Finland, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday.
Wan Wenguo, 43, appeared at the Eastern Court to face a charge of criminal damage and two additional charges for breaching local maritime regulations during the Newnew Polar Bear’s journey between October and December 2023.
Prosecutors said he is responsible for damage to the 77-kilometer (47.8-mile) Balticconnector -- a crucial natural gas pipeline supplying Finland -- as well as to a nearby telecommunications cable, which occurred when the cargo ship passed through the Gulf of Finland on Oct. 8, 2023.
Wan was also accused of violating navigation safety protocols by not ensuring the vessel was equipped with enough anchors and failing to submit daily reports to the ship’s owner.
The court set the next hearing for early July to allow time for investigations.
Wan was remanded in custody after stating he had no intention to apply for bail.
