Estonia is proposing a tax on shipping companies whose vessels transit the Baltic Sea, one of the busiest maritime routes, to cover the high costs of protecting underwater cables, Estonia’s Defense Minister announced on Wednesday following a series of security breaches.
Last week, NATO announced plans to deploy frigates, patrol aircraft, and drones in the Baltic Sea after several incidents where ships damaged power and communication cables with their anchors in what is suspected to be acts of sabotage.
In addition to increased patrols, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told Reuters that countries are considering additional measures to safeguard the cables, including installing sensors to detect dragged anchors on the seabed or constructing protective barriers around the infrastructure.
However, these measures come at a cost. Whether countries or cable operators ultimately bear the financial burden, consumers may end up footing the bill through higher taxes or increased service costs.
