Norway releases ship detained in cable-cutting probe
Police in Tromso released Silver Dania, which has since arrived in Murmansk
Vessel was detained after a legal request by Latvia following damage to a fibre optic cable between Latvia and Sweden
A CARGOSHIP suspected of damaging an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea has been released by Norwegian authorities only hours after it was detained.
Norway-flagged, 1989-built, 5,353 dwt Silver Dania (IMO: 8808604) was brought into Tromso by a Norwegian coastguard vessel at around 2100 hrs on Thursday, January 30.
Police conducted a search on the ship and conducted several interviews, following a request by Latvia to detain the vessel after a fibre optic cable between it and Sweden was damaged on January 26.
The general cargoship was sailing between St. Petersburg and Murmansk, Norwegian police said, with an all-Russian crew.
But Silver Dania was only in Tromso for a short period of time before being allowed to leave again by the evening of January 31.
Police attorney Ronny Jørgensen said: "Tromso police district has now conducted a number of investigative steps and secured what we see as necessary considering the request from Latvia.
“The investigation will continue, but we see no reason for the ship to remain in Tromso any longer. No findings have been made linking the ship to the act."
Silver Dania left Tromso in the early hours of February 1 and arrived in Murmansk on February 2.