September 28, 1994 – the day when the ferry “Estonia”, which was on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm, sank in the stormy Baltic Sea – recorded in black in the history of Estonian, Latvian and Swedish shipping: sinking to the bottom of the Baltic Sea, the ferry took 852 lives , thus becoming the biggest maritime disaster after the Second World War. Every year, this date is commemorated with prayers for the souls of the dead, and the question of the cause of this tragic disaster remains unanswered. However, several committees of inquiry have sought an answer to this, and it has been concluded that the technical shortcomings and the high speed of the ferry in the rippled sea are to blame, that these are the reasons why the ferry’s front visor broke and several thousand tons of water entered the ship.
The shocking discovery of a Swedish film director
However, 28 September 2020 seems to have brought a possible radical turn in the investigation into the ferry disaster, shaking not only Estonia but the whole world, thanks to new and hitherto unknown information published by Swedish film director Henrik Evertson. Preparing the documentary «Estonia – A Find That Changes Everything» for the TV channel Discovery Norway [«Estonia – atklājums, kas maina visu» ‒ angļu val.], just a year ago, in September 2019, with the help of underwater robots, he filmed a bend, as well as a four-meter-long and more than a meter-wide hole in the starboard side of the ferry. It is estimated that no one has noticed this hole before because it was covered with sediment and sand, but this time it was clearly visible. The film premiered on Monday, September 28th.
Estonia has initiated a new investigation
On September 28, the news agency LETA, quoting the announcement of the Prime Minister of Estonia Jiri Ratas on Monday, reported that in connection with the new information received, Estonia had initiated a new investigation into the conditions of the 1994 Estonia ferry disaster in connection with documentaries reception group. “A new technical investigation into the circumstances of Estonia’s death must be carried out. On our part, the investigation will include underwater observations, we have informed Finland and Sweden about it, »Ratass pointed out. “We want the truth to come to light.” According to him, all three countries have agreed that the new investigation will be led by Estonia. Meanwhile, several technical experts, quoted by the Estonian newspaper Postimees, have already expressed the opinion that the blow to the ferry hull came from outside and that the damage was not caused by the explosion. [avārijas izmeklēšanā pastāvēja arī šāda versija]. Given the fact that the hole in the hull is below water level and that there is no information about another vessel next to Estonia, a version is also mentioned that the ferry may have collided with the submarine. It should be noted that the filmmakers have been in contact with the Estonian authorities since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, when they also announced that new circumstances had emerged during the filming last autumn.
Read the full article in the latest issue of “Vakara Ziņas”!
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