A Norwegian-owned and Russian-crewed ship that authorities initially suspected may have been involved in damage to an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland has been released.

A Norwegian-owned, Russian-crewed ship that authorities initially suspected of involvement in damage to an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland has been released.

A ship with a Russian crew that was briefly held on suspicion of being involved in cable damage in the Baltic Sea has been released by the Norwegian authorities. Police in the northern Norwegian city of Tromsø announced on Friday that there was no evidence that the Silver Dania ship had anything to do with the recent damage to a fibre optic cable

Nato countries have stepped up patrols to protect critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, which is bordered by eight countries, and other waters. A Royal Navy submarine was ordered to surface last November close to a suspected Russian spy ship which was loitering over undersea infrastructure in UK waters.

After a series of suspected undersea cable cuttings, NATO has launched a new surveillance and deterrence mission to protect critical infrastructure under the Baltic Sea.

The Nordic country has opened an investigation into the damage, just weeks after NATO stepped up its military presence in the area following a series of similar incidents.

Estonia's defence minister on Wednesday said ships may have to pay a fee to use the Baltic Sea to cover costs of protecting undersea cables.

Police say a Norwegian-owned and Russian-crewed ship that authorities suspect may have been involved in damage to an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland has been stopped off Norway.