An unknown ship seen sailing near the country

In recent years, the Icelandic Coast Guard has intensified its efforts to monitor submarine cables off the coast of Iceland, according to Georg Kr. Lárusson, Director of the Coast Guard. In an interview with Morgunblaðið, Lárusson revealed that authorities have detected the movement of unidentified vessels in the waters surrounding the country.

The agency has been tracking the navigation of the so-called "shadow fleet," a group of vessels operated by Russia. These ships sail under the flags of other nations, often using outdated and poorly maintained vessels. Many of them transmit false location data, deliberately misleading law enforcement and regulatory agencies, Lárusson explained.

Critical Infrastructure at Risk

The primary focus of this increased surveillance is the network of submarine telecommunications cables connecting Iceland to other nations. These cables are vital to Iceland’s communication infrastructure, and any disruption—whether brief or prolonged—could cause severe consequences for individuals, businesses, and the national economy.

Lárusson stated that the exact purpose of these suspicious vessels operating near Iceland remains unclear. While they have remained outside Icelandic territorial waters (12 nautical miles from shore), they have been detected within the country’s exclusive economic zone (up to 200 nautical miles), which remains international waters.

Similar vessels have also been observed navigating British waters and off the coasts of Scandinavian countries. Russia has previously faced accusations of sabotaging submarine cables in the Baltic Sea and other regions, raising concerns over potential threats to critical infrastructure.