New cracks discovered in the wreck of M/S Estonia

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The ongoing investigation reveals that there are further cracks in the hull of the ferry Estonia. The Swedish have long been aware of it but decided to share the knowledge only now.

As far as Postimees knows, the Swedish were aware of the cracks in the hull already before the current investigation was launched. The studied simply granted them the opportunity to confirm the information and share it with the public, an anonymous source assured the daily.

According to the Swedish news agency TT, the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau has confirmed that two hitherto unknown cracks had been found in the wreck, Aftonbladet reported. Jonas Bäckstrand, director general of the Swedish Safety Investigation Board, assured that it was so.

Postimees asked Bäckstrand whether the terms used by the Swedish media – that they found a “crack” or a “hole” – is correct. Bäckstrand explained that there is the danger of misinterpreting the data unless a complete body of evidence is present.

“One has to be very careful with the interpretation of data before the gathering of data has been completed. We are searching for possible deformations or cracks in the wreck but I cannot confirm anything before the complete body of data has been collected,” Bäckstrand told Postimees. “We want to be careful so that there would be no rushing to conclusions before experts have completed their work,” he added.

Rene Arikas, head of the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau, which is heading the expedition, told Postimees that they had discovered deformations of various sizes in different locations on the wreck.

“We have discovered that there are various objects outside the wreck which definitely need closer study. It is also apparent that there are deformations of different size in various locations on the wreck,” Arikas said.

More detailed information about the dimensions and causes of the deformations can be obtained through further studies with 3D scanner and confirmed with a remotely controlled submersible vehicle, Arikas said.

The head of the expedition avoids the term “crack”. “There are certainly deformations which can be seen in the wreck to a considerable extent in various locations. We can also see signs that there are various details (fragments) scattered on the top of the hull and in the vicinity of the wreck,” he described.

The investigation team of the loss of M/S Estonia began on Monday a detailed survey with a 3D scanner, aimed at obtaining a detailed picture of the situation of the wreck and the surrounding seabed.

“Today (Monday, July 12) we shall circle the wreck to receive a more detailed picture of the hull and the surrounding area. On Tuesday we shall begin more detailed study of individual objects, meaning that we shall study the deformations more closely,” Arikas said, adding that the visibility is good enough for the use of the remotely controlled underwater vehicle.

Twenty-seven years after the tragic shipwreck which claimed 852 lives, the first legal dives to the wreck take place. The cause of the new dives is the claim made in the documentary “M/S Estonia – a discovery that changed everything” that a hitherto unknown hole was found in the wreck.

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