The Finnish Coast Guard is set to add two new ships to its fleet to safeguard the Balticconnector subsea gas pipeline. A recent report from iltalehti.fi lays out the plan, highlighting how the new vessels will bolster maritime security in the Gulf of Finland and along Finland’s Baltic approaches.
Officials say that damage to the gas pipeline and related data cables in the Gulf of Finland has prompted the addition of these patrol ships. The existing patrol vessel Turva will be complemented by two modern boats that will extend the Finnish authorities’ reach on the water, ensuring faster response times and enhanced monitoring in sensitive areas.
Construction timelines place the first vessel’s completion in 2025, with the second following in 2026. The new ships will replace patrol vessels that have served for more than thirty years and have since been decommissioned or retired from active duty as part of an ongoing modernization effort.
Project details indicate that each vessel will measure about 98 meters in length and 17.6 meters in width. They are designed to carry weapons up to 30 millimeters and will feature helipads, enabling rapid air-sea operations, search and rescue missions, and critical border-control activities in Nordic waters.
The Balticconnector pipeline, which links Finland and Estonia across the Baltic Sea, experienced damage in October 2023 and has remained a focus of national security and energy infrastructure discussions. Finnish authorities and partners have stressed the importance of maintaining pipeline integrity and ensuring resilient transport routes for European energy security.
Initial investigations into the 2023 incidents point to a nearby vessel believed to have anchored in the vicinity as a possible contributing factor. While the exact causes are under review, authorities continue to monitor the area and coordinate with international partners to prevent further harm to critical maritime infrastructure.
The European Commission had previously announced compensation of 800 thousand euros to address damage linked to the Balticconnector project, underscoring the cross-border nature of the incident and the shared responsibilities for safeguarding essential energy links in the region.
Overall, the planned additions reflect Finland’s commitment to strengthening coastal security, improving maritime rescue capabilities, and ensuring reliable operations for vital cross-border energy infrastructure. The new ships will play a key role in enforcing border control, conducting search-and-rescue missions, and coordinating with allied agencies to maintain safe and secure sea lanes in the Baltic and Gulf of Finland areas. This modernization aligns with broader efforts to modernize Nordic naval forces and protect critical infrastructure in challenging maritime environments.