On Wednesday, December 31, Finnish authorities detained a vessel en route from Russia over suspicions of damaging an undersea telecommunications cable connecting Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland. Fourteen crew members from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan were arrested, according to the BBC Russian Service.

The police are investigating “disruption of telecommunications systems under aggravating circumstances” and “sabotage and attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances.” At this stage, the investigation focuses on large-scale damage, attempted intentional damage, and interference with telecommunications systems.

Early on December 31, Finnish telecom operator Elisa reported a fault in its cable. A helicopter and patrol vessel were dispatched to the area and found the suspicious vessel drifting at anchor. Authorities ordered the ship to stop, lift its anchor, and reposition within Finnish territorial waters.

The vessel, identified as the 132-meter cargo ship Fitburg, flying the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was en route from Saint Petersburg to Haifa, Israel. All 14 crew members were detained.

Mikko Simola, commander of the Finnish Gulf Coast Guard, stated that a helicopter and the patrol ship Turva were immediately sent to investigate potential suspects in the maritime zone. The operation is led by the Helsinki Police Department, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Currently, extensive international cooperation is underway, including with Estonian authorities. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, will inspect the ship as part of a state port control to ensure compliance with international conventions, without interfering with the ongoing police investigation. Customs will also search the ship for any goods that may violate sanctions or regulations.

Representatives from Elisa confirmed that the cable damage did not affect their services, which were rerouted. Deputy Prosecutor General Jukka Rappe told Finnish broadcaster Yle that the ship is suspected of severing a data transmission cable, though accidental damage has not been ruled out.

When asked whether the cable was damaged on behalf of another country, Chief of Police Ilkka Koskimäki said that authorities do not speculate on such matters, focusing solely on investigating the incident. Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted that Finland is prepared for security challenges and responds as needed.

Meanwhile, Estonia reported a fault on a second telecommunications cable connecting the country to Finland. Estonian President Alar Karis expressed concern but emphasized that the investigation would clarify whether the damage was intentional.

The detained cargo ship Fitburg is owned by Fitburg Shipping Co Ltd and managed by Albros Shipping & Trading Ltd, headquartered in Turkey. The company’s majority shareholder is Turkish businessman Raim Alekperov, who is reportedly Azerbaijani and controls 76% of the company.

Raim Alekperov: Azerbaijani Founder of Turkish Shipping Company with Russian Ties

https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/nodes/56050141?e=true

Raim Alekperov is the founder and director of the Turkish shipping company Albros Shipping & Trading, known for its connections with Russia and involvement in international schemes, including sanctions violations and incidents involving undersea cables, despite his Azerbaijani origin.

He has been in the media spotlight due to family conflicts and accusations of tax evasion. Albros, with subsidiaries in Russia, has been involved in scandals related to sanctions violations in Crimea.

Key Facts about Raim Alekperov:

Business: Founder and CEO of the Albros shipping group.

Origin: Azerbaijani businessman residing in Turkey. Russian Connections:

The company has Russian subsidiaries (e.g., Albros-Petersburg); its vessels operated under the Russian flag with Russian crews, and previously violated sanctions related to Crimea, including visits to Sevastopol. The company itself is not currently under sanctions.

Scandals: Document leaks suggesting tax evasion. Family disputes in Turkey, including reported attacks on relatives.

This background highlights Alekperov’s significant role in shipping between Turkey, Russia, and Azerbaijan, as well as his company’s involvement in controversial maritime incidents.

Albros Shipping & Trading is a major player in shipping between Turkey and Russia and operates multiple cargo vessels and tankers in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Many of its ships previously sailed under the Russian flag with Russian crews.

To date, Albros Shipping & Trading is not subject to sanctions, though its subsidiary Albros Petersburg Shipping has previously violated shipping sanctions in Crimea, including a 2017 visit by the ship Amur 2515 to Sevastopol.

This case highlights the ongoing strategic role that Azerbaijanis and affiliated maritime operators play in supporting Russia’s shipping activities, including in sensitive regions.

Albros Shipping Fleet Overview

Fleet Composition

Albros owns over 40 dry cargo vessels, including:

Azovmax type (RSD12 project) – 4 new vessels Caspian Express type (003RSD04 project) – 11 new vessels (including modifications 003RSD04/ALB02 and 003RSD04/ALB03) Karelia type (005RSD03 project) – 2 new vessels Samur type (19620, 19620M, 19620A projects) – 15 modernized vessels, Deadweight ~2700 t Volgo-Balt type (2-95A, 2-95A/R projects) – 5 modernized vessels, Deadweight ~3500 t Sibirskiy type (0225 project) – 4 vessels, Deadweight ~4760 t Other vessels – various smaller ships

Note: Most of Albros’ fleet sails under the Russian flag and is operated by Russian crews.

Fleet Construction and Ownership

Over the past 5 years, Albros built 17 dry cargo vessels at Turkish and Russian shipyards for its own purposes:

Vessel Name

Year Built

Ulus Prime

2004

Ulus Star

2005

Ulus Sky

2005

Ulus Breeze

2006

Ulus Wind

2006

Ulus Stream

2006

Gelius 1

2007

Gelius 2

2008

Gelius 3

2008

Modulus 1

2008

Modulus 2

2009

Azov Concept

2006

Azov Confidence

2007

Azov Coast

2007

Azov Concord

2008

Vasiliy Klimov

2007

Mekhanik Kovalenko

2008

Under Construction: Modulus-3

Main Vessel Types & Designs

All vessels belong to three Marine Engineering Bureau designs:

Caspian Express type (003RSD04 & modifications 003RSD04/ALB02, 003RSD04/ALB03) Multipurpose dry cargo vessel Ice2 class Deadweight: 3700/4450 t (river/sea) Azov XL type (RSD12) Multipurpose dry cargo vessel Ice2 class Deadweight: 8050 t Karelia type (005RSD03) Multipurpose dry cargo vessel Ice2 class Deadweight: 3300/5470 t (river/sea)

Additional Builds:

2 chemical tankers Small single-draught supply tug for the Caspian Sea (second one under construction)

Industry Recognition & Network

During company anniversaries and events, key figures in shipping from former USSR countries have congratulated Raim Alekperov:

Sergey Kolonistov – General Director, Orimi Ship Victor Batin – General Director, Marship Nikolay Sochin – General Director, ARK Shipping Eugeny Linev – General Director, Rio Maritime Gennady Egorov – General Director, Marine Engineering Bureau

Key Notes

Albros Shipping is strategically active in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Most vessels operate under Russian flag with Russian crews, highlighting close operational ties with Russia. The company is involved in modern shipbuilding and fleet modernization, including ice-class vessels for river and sea transport