HELSINKI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The tanker Eagle S, accused of damaging underwater cables in the Baltic Sea last December, has left Finland as the criminal investigation has reached a stage that no longer requires the ship's presence.

The Finnish Border Guard monitored the departure of the tanker from Finnish territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone, local police authority announced on Sunday.

The preliminary investigation now considers the suspected charges as aggravated vandalism and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Authorities expect to conclude the criminal investigation by the end of April.

The confiscation order on the ship was lifted on Feb. 28. However, three crew members are still barred from leaving Finland. Meanwhile, electricity companies continue to pursue compensation claims through the courts, according to the police.

The Eagle S, a Cook Islands-flagged tanker, had been accused of damaging the Estlink 2 power cable and other communication cables between Finland and Estonia on Dec. 25, 2024. Soon after the incident, Finnish authorities seized the ship and launched an investigation.

The Estlink 2 line, damaged by the tanker, remains under repair, according to Finnish state grid operator Fingrid.

Although Fingrid and the Estonian state grid operator Elering no longer seek the ship's seizure, both transmission system operators plan to file a lawsuit against Eagle S, seeking compensation through legal proceedings. Enditem

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