Hong Kong-registered ship captain pleads not guilty to criminal damage of Balticconnector pipeline, with case adjourned until May.
HONG KONG: The Chinese captain of a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship pleaded not guilty to criminal damage of a Baltic Sea gas pipeline.
Wan Wenguo, 43, entered his plea on Wednesday regarding the October 2023 incident involving the Balticconnector pipeline between Finland and Estonia.
Finnish police believe the vessel’s six-tonne anchor struck the pipeline, causing damage and breaking off.
The pipeline’s operator said repairs would take at least five months, forcing Finland to rely on liquefied natural gas imports.
An anchor recovered from the seabed was linked to the 169-metre vessel Newnew Polar Bear.
Wan has been in custody in Hong Kong since May 2025, accused of causing “criminal damage”.
According to a charge sheet, he was “reckless” and “damaged property belonging to another” without lawful excuse.
His lawyer stated Wan faces up to two years in prison if convicted on the criminal damage charge.
Wan also pleaded not guilty to two summons charges of failing to ensure the ship complied with safety requirements.
He did not apply for bail, and the case was adjourned until May 5.
The incident occurred over a year after explosions damaged three other Baltic Sea gas pipelines.
That earlier event cut off a major supply route to Europe from Russia.