The Finnish Coast Guard will receive two new ships to protect the Balticconnector subsea gas pipeline. The publication reports that iltalehti.fi.
“Due to damage to the gas pipeline and data cables in the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Border Guard patrol ship Turva will soon be joined by two new patrol ships,” the article said.
Construction of the first is expected to be completed in 2025, and the second in 2026.
The new ships will replace patrol vessels built more than three decades ago, some of which have been decommissioned.
According to project manager Captain Marco Aheristo, the ships will be 98 meters long and 17.6 meters wide. They will have weapons of up to 30 millimeter caliber and helipads. The ships are expected to take part in border control and rescue operations.
Balticconnector, the submarine gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia across the Baltic Sea. damaged In October 2023.
Finnish police believe the damage was caused by: chinese shipwhose anchor is located nearby.
The European Commission had previously announced payment 800 thousand euros for damage to the Finnish Baltic connector.