System operators are planning to recover EstLink 2 repair costs through the court

Elering and Finnish electricity system operator Fingrid have withdrawn their motion to attach the vessel Eagle S, which broke the EstLink 2 power connection on 25 December of last year for compensation for damages and plan to sue the ship’s owner for compensation for repair costs.

According to Kalle Kilk, chairman of the management board of Elering, the reason for abandoning the claim for attachment is the unreasonably high costs associated with attachment. “The cost of attaching a vessel is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of euros per month, plus a deposit of one million euros and several other additional costs, as a result of which the costs arising from the attachment may ultimately be greater than the value of the vessel. In addition, it is extremely difficult to sell a vessel during a legal dispute,” said Kilk.

System operators are planning to sue the ship’s owner to cover repair costs. If the investigation establishes the culpability of the crew members, this will be handled in court as part of a criminal case, separate from compensation for damages. “It is important for Elering that damages are compensated and that no one feels that they can destroy the undersea infrastructure with impunity,” said Kilk.

Based on the assessment of a Finnish law firm, the trial could last up to 5–6 years, so system operators will initially have to cover the costs themselves in order to quickly restore the connection.