China has, for the first time, acknowledged that the Chinese-owned cargo ship Newnew Polar Bear was responsible for damaging the Balticconnector gas pipeline last October, according to a report by the Chinese media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP). Chinese authorities stated that the damage caused by the ship was accidental, resulting from a severe storm. An internal investigation by China has been conducted, with the findings shared with relevant parties, SCMP reported.

However, the report produced by Chinese investigators cannot be used as evidence in ongoing investigations by Estonia and Finland.

In an interview with the SCMP, Kairi Küngas, head of public relations for the Estonian prosecutor’s office, confirmed that Estonia had not received the report. She stressed that “in no case can it be used as evidence in Estonia’s criminal investigation,” as Chinese authorities had not invited Estonian investigators to participate in the probe.

“We have submitted a request for legal assistance to collect evidence from the vessel and its crew. To fulfil this request, Chinese authorities can either conduct the investigation themselves or involve Estonian investigators,” Küngas said. “The Chinese authorities have yet to respond to the request.”

UPDATE:

China’s explanations on last autumn’s rupture to the Balticconnector gas pipeline are questionable, Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur has said — (Archived)

Pevkur added that China’s admission of culpability was not in and of itself a surprise as there had always been a strong belief. from the outset, that a ship’s anchor had caused the damage to the Balticconnector pipeline.

He also expressed skepticism about China’s claim that a severe storm was to blame in the incident.

“Personally, I find it very difficult to understand how a ship’s captain could fail to notice for such a long time that its anchor had been dragging along the seabed, but it is up to the Prosecutor’s Office to complete the investigation,” the minister went on.