After this autumn's documentary about Estonia on Dplay, it was discovered that there are two holes in the hull of the passenger ferry M / S Estonia.

Shortly afterwards, international government co-operation began between Sweden, Estonia and Finland.

The accident commissions have, among other things, reviewed the raw material from the documentary and now announce that they want to make their own dives.

- Modern technology today offers greater opportunities than those that existed -94.

New dives are a prerequisite for us to be able to move forward, says Jonas Bäckstrand at the Swedish Accident Investigation Board.

Unclear work

He does not want to say whether the accident commissions have a common thesis about how the holes have arisen.

- We do not want to speculate on these types of issues, says Jonas Bäckstrand.

Request a change in the law

Before new dives can become relevant, the government must change the legislation that prohibits disturbing the peace of Estonia.

The Swedish Accident Investigation Board is therefore asking the government to change the legislation.

- We also request that the government look at the international agreement on grave peace and contact other countries included in the agreement.

Look from the inside

The countries' accident commissions want to image the entire hull to investigate whether there may be more damage.

It may also be relevant to take metal and bottom samples to further investigate the damage.

- We are anxious to make new investigations as soon as possible, but it is more important that it goes right and is done carefully, than that it goes fast.

Can it be relevant to examine the ship from the inside?

- It is possible that we may need to look at the plate around the holes from the inside.

Otherwise, I judge that we will not have to go in, says Jonas Bäckstrand.

What do you think about the fact that the official investigation from 1997 established that there was no damage to the hull?

- No comments other than that the ship was then with the starboard side down and that they probably were not visible.


At 2.15 pm, Minister of the Interior Mikael Damberg (S) will hold a press conference.