Estonia fortifies water borders with new floating defenses
The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) plans to develop a water border infrastructure, with floating barriers and buoys set to appear on the Narva River. The Russians had removed the previous ones.
The Estonian-Russian border predominantly consists of water borders, with only a small part running on land. It is an 84-mile section of the 210-mile border. The rest comprises water borders, stretching from the Gulf of Finland through the Narva River and Lake Peipsi.
Estonia focuses on protecting water borders
As part of a pilot project, Estonia plans to build water border infrastructure. For testing purposes, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has selected a system of buoys anchored to the bottom of the water body and a floating pontoon fence.
The buoys rotate easily in the water, cannot be climbed or grabbed, and in some locations, they are equipped with blades. According to Veiko Kommusaar, deputy director general of the PPA, a similar solution was introduced by the American state of Texas last year on its border river with Mexico, the Rio Grande.
In June, border services detained four illegal immigrants attempting to enter Estonia via the Narva. A month later, a pontoon carrying 13 immigrants from India was stopped on Lake Lämmijärvi.
The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board plans to allocate 1 million euros to protect water borders. The pilot programme is scheduled to start next year and could last up to three years.
Initially, the protective systems will be installed in locations that are easiest for migrants to cross. The critical question remains whether they will withstand winter conditions.
In May, Russian border services removed the Estonian buoys placed on the river, claiming they were on their territory.
