Finnish police have said they are looking into whether a heavy object recovered from the seabed might have had something to do with damage to a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia that was discovered last weekend.
The National Bureau of Investigation said that movements of the Newnew Polar bear, a Hong Kong flagged ship owned by a Chinese firm, coincided with the time and place the pipeline was damaged.
"The investigation has confirmed that the damage has been caused by an external mechanical force, and based on current knowledge there is no reason to believe the damage has been caused by an explosion," said the General Head of Investigation, Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi.
The NBI statement said that a clump of clay on the seabed probably contained a large and heavy object, and samples had been taken for analysis.
"Attempts will be made to lift the object from the sea for technical examination," Lohi said in the statement.
On 9 October it emerged that a gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland had been damaged, and supply was shut down. Damage to a data cable was also discovered soon afterwards.
Investigators believe the damage was caused by an external force, but have not said who they suspect might have tried to damage the pipeline.
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