Overview

• The district court threw out criminal charges and related compensation claims, finding Finnish criminal law inapplicable to the case.
• Judges concluded the ship lost its anchor because the anchoring mechanism malfunctioned and found no proven intent to drop it.
• Jurisdiction was assigned to the vessel’s flag state or the defendants’ states of nationality, including the Cook Islands, Georgia and India.
• Prosecutors had sought two years and six months in prison for the captain and two officers, and state prosecutor Jukka Rappe said a decision on an appeal will come within a week.
• The prosecution alleged the 11,000 kg anchor was dragged about 90 km, damaging the EstLink 2 power link and four internet cables, with repair losses estimated at no less than €60 million.