Finland Plans Gulf of Finland Surveillance Hub to Protect Undersea Infrastructure

Finland is planning to establish a maritime surveillance centre in the Gulf of Finland to help prevent damage to critical undersea infrastructure, including submarine cables and pipelines, the Finnish Border Guard said on Monday. The centre will be developed in cooperation with other Baltic Sea nations and the European Commission.

The move comes as the Baltic Sea region remains on high alert following multiple power cable, telecommunications and gas pipeline disruptions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The latest incident occurred on New Year’s Eve, when Finnish authorities seized a cargo vessel travelling from Russia to Israel on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable.

While Nato has strengthened its presence in the region through naval vessels, aircraft and drones, the planned Finnish surveillance hub forms part of a broader European Union action plan proposed last year to improve the security of submarine cables.

Finnish officials said the centre will focus on preventive measures, including seabed sensors, artificial intelligence systems for real-time monitoring of maritime traffic, and enhanced information-sharing with allied countries. The facility will be built gradually using existing Border Guard capabilities, with Finland also seeking EU funding for the project.

Authorities have intensified monitoring following previous incidents, including damage caused by a Chinese container ship in 2023. Finnish officials have since seized two vessels, the oil tanker Eagle S in December 2024 and the cargo vessel Fitburg in December 2025, on suspicion of damaging undersea cables by dragging anchors.

Officials said close monitoring of vessel movements, including unusual changes in speed or course, has helped prevent further damage to critical infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland.