Shipping firms may soon face fees to navigate the Baltic Sea, a vital shipping route, to fund the protection of undersea cables. This follows a series of suspected sabotage incidents, with NATO deploying forces to safeguard the region’s infrastructure.
Shipping companies may soon face a fee to navigate the Baltic Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, to cover the growing costs of protecting undersea cables, as highlighted by Estonia's defence minister on Wednesday. The proposal follows a series of breaches, which have raised concerns over the security of vital power and communications infrastructure.
NATO recently announced the deployment of frigates, patrol aircraft, and drones to monitor the Baltic after several incidents where ships have caused damage to cables with their anchors, suspected to be acts of sabotage. Alongside these patrols, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur discussed the possibility of additional measures, such as installing sensors to detect anchor movements or constructing protective barriers around the cables.
These protective measures, however, will incur substantial costs, with the potential for consumers to bear the financial burden through increased taxes or utility costs. Pevkur proposed a solution that would involve charging vessels passing through the Baltic Sea, particularly in areas like the Danish Straits, to help fund the protection efforts. He compared this potential fee to airport landing charges included in ticket prices.
With around 150 undersea cables damaged globally each year, the Baltic Sea is particularly vulnerable due to its dense maritime traffic, with estimates suggesting as many as 4000 ships cross the region daily. The situation has been exacerbated by recent incidents, including the seizure of a Maltese-flagged vessel by Swedish authorities in connection with damage to a cable linking Latvia and Sweden.
Pevkur suggested that the incidents may be the result of coordinated actions by vessels linked to Russia’s "shadow fleet", although official investigations are still ongoing. Moscow has dismissed these claims, accusing Western nations of making unfounded accusations. As discussions continue, countries must find a collective solution to safeguard the region’s undersea cables and maintain maritime security.
Flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended on Monday (16 March) following a drone strike nearby, the emi...
Kazakh voters have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev a loop...
'One Battle After Another' tops the Oscars with 6 awards, followed by 'Sinners' which takes 4, 'Frankenstein' 3 and Ne...
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues ...
Canada and the five Nordic countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and other areas, in...
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that the Baltic Sea is increasingly turning into an arena of confrontation with Russia, urging European allies to strengthen their defence readiness.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea, officials said, as NATO’s eastern members heighten vigilance against potential airspace incursions.
NATO has announced reinforcements to its Baltic Sea mission, including an air-defence frigate, after unidentified drones entered Danish airspace near key sites.
The United Nations Security Council is due to meet on Monday over Estonia's accusation that Russian fighter jets violated its airspace at the weekend, diplomats said.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
The Academy Awards nominations have been announced, with the crime drama Sinners leading the race securing a record 16 nominations ahead of the ceremony set for 15 March. The event, which honours the film industry’s top achievements over the past year, will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.
Canada and the five Nordic countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and other areas, in the latest push by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to build new global alliances.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as they defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to the region.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Tens of millions of Vietnamese were voting on Sunday (15 March) to elect members of parliament from a list of candidates almost exclusively fielded by the Communist Party, ensuring the party's continued overwhelming dominance.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment