Investigation Reveals Alumina Supply Chain to Russian Military

A cargo vessel named Arne, which regularly transports alumina from the Aughinish Alumina plant in County Limerick, Ireland, has come under scrutiny following its activities near critical subsea cables off the Irish west coast. The ship was observed dropping its anchor in the vicinity of the AEC-1 data cable, which connects Ireland and the United States, shortly after collecting a shipment from Aughinish. This incident occurred in January 2025, and a month later, German police boarded the vessel, discovering it was missing its port-side anchor and much of its anchor cable.

The Irish Times

Aughinish Alumina, owned by the Russian metals giant Rusal, has been a significant supplier of alumina to Russian aluminium smelters, with shipments increasing from 23% to 68% of its production since 2020. The alumina exported from Aughinish is processed into aluminium, which is then sold to suppliers for the Russian military industry. Despite the legality of these exports, the involvement of Rusal, which has close ties to the Kremlin, raises concerns among European security agencies.

The Irish Times

On January 28, 2025, while under surveillance by the Irish Air Corps, the Arne was reported to be towing its anchor as it sailed off the coast of County Mayo. Following its departure from Irish waters, the ship was intercepted by German authorities on February 22, 2025, while attempting to enter the Kiel Canal. Although the German inspection found the vessel missing its anchor, authorities could not link it to any damage to the C-Lion subsea cable, which had suffered minor damage around the same time.

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A law firm representing Alpha Shipping, the ship's operator, attributed the loss of the anchor to severe weather conditions experienced off the Irish coast. They stated that the ship's crew acted in accordance with international shipping protocols and cooperated fully with German authorities, who found no irregularities.

The Irish Times

Rusal's spokesperson emphasized that the Arne's crew had no intent regarding the incident and that all claims against the shipowner were withdrawn following the investigation. The spokesperson for Aughinish Alumina reiterated that the vessel was thoroughly vetted before its operations.

The Irish Times

Following the incident, the Arne returned to Aughinish on March 24, 2025, and has since been subject to ongoing surveillance by EU security services while in European waters. The situation highlights the complexities of international shipping and the potential implications of alumina exports from Ireland to Russia, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Irish Times

While the investigation has confirmed the Arne's activities and its connections to the alumina supply chain, discrepancies remain regarding the exact circumstances of the anchor loss and its potential link to subsea cable damage. Finnish authorities suggested that another ship may have caused the damage to the C-Lion cable, indicating a lack of consensus on the matter.

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• “All claims against the shipowner have since been withdrawn,” — Rusal Spokesperson

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• “These steps are entirely typical in the ordinary course of international shipping, and the German authorities identified no irregularities whatsoever.” — Alpha Shipping Law Firm Statement

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• “who concluded that the Arne’s crew bore no intent in relation to the incident” — Rusal Spokesperson

The Irish Times