A vessel that regularly transports cargo from Aughinish Alumina, the Co Limerick industrial plant, to Russia was observed dropping its anchor near critical subsea cables off the Irish west coast last year after collecting a shipment from the plant. Rusal and Aughinish Alumina both said they have no control over the ship aside from hiring it for the transport of alumina. A vessel at the jetty of the Aughinish Alumina plant on the Shannon estuary. Authorities found it was missing its port side anchor and much of its anchor cable, European security sources said. A spokesperson for Limerick Alumina Refinery, Aughinish’s parent company, said the Arne was thoroughly vetted and provided an example of a vetting document.

Source: The Irish Times March 28, 2026 15:02 UTC