Law enforcement forces are invading a cargo ship in the North Baltic Sea.
On a typical afternoon on August 26, 2025, the South Lock of the Kiel Canal in Kiel-Wik was the scene of an unusual operation. The 75-meter-long freighter, "Scanlark", flying the flag of the Caribbean state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was boarded by numerous officers from the Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein state police.
The operation was initiated due to suspicions of espionage activity, with the aim of potentially sabotaging Germany's maritime critical infrastructure. According to reports, a drone was likely launched from the illuminated hull of the "Scanlark", controlled over a naval ship, and used to survey and take pictures of the vessel in the Kiel Canal area.
The investigation, being led by the Flensburg public prosecutor's office, involves the interior ministries of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. To gather evidence, divers searched the ship's hull from the outside, and masked officers conducted a thorough search of the freighter's interior.
During the operation, a webcam filming the area was deactivated. The details of the operation, including any arrests and the current status of the ship, remain unclear. The visitor platform of the lock where the operation took place was closed to the public.
The "Scanlark" remains moored in the Kiel Canal, according to Vesselfinder.com. This significant event underscores the importance of safeguarding Germany's maritime critical infrastructure, and the investigation is a testament to the vigilance of German security authorities in maintaining national security.
