Part of the wreck Estonia may need to be examined further on land, according to the Accident Investigation Board’s Deputy Director General Jonas Bäckstrand. “What could be relevant to salvage is above all the bow ramp, because it is an important piece of the puzzle in the course of events in the sinking.”
Today, that part of the ship is loose and leaning against the hull. Two remaining hinges have been released, says Bäckstrand. Right now, the Accident Investigation Board is leading an expedition out on the Baltic Sea. Then, among other things, the bow ramp will be photographed.
– If it is good enough, there may not be a need to salvage it either. We get to see quite simply.
Jonas Bäckstrand can not say anything more about the possible measure.
– There is no such decision, whether it should be salvaged or not, but we must return to it. These are discussions we are having.
“We are very happy”
The Accident Investigation Board’s Deputy Director General Jonas Bäckstrand says that the photographs taken during the expedition are of high quality. Photo: Stefan Jerrevång / TT
The expedition on the Baltic Sea has been going on for a week. In total, the examination is estimated to take between 12 and 16 days. The wreck is photographed with a special technique, photogrammetry, where a large number of still images are put together into a three-dimensional image in high resolution. The work is extremely weather-dependent and to get optimal visibility, June was considered to be the best month for the surveys.
– We get pictures of very high quality so that so far we are very satisfied, says Bäckstrand.
Technical difficulties
The expedition had some setbacks. On Tuesday, a specially built underwater drone got stuck shortly after it was released into the sea and two days later a cable went off during the work. Despite this, the work is going according to plan.
– We have expected some technical difficulties. This is not an easy task, we are fully aware of it, so we have taken it into account in the schedule, says Bäckstrand.
The background to the new surveys are the holes that were found and presented in the documentary “Estonia – the find that changes everything” which was broadcast in 2020.
It will take three to four months to compile all the data from the expedition, says Bäckstrand. When that work is completed, the photo material will be published.
Facts: The survey
The expedition takes a large number of still images that overlap each other and together form a high-resolution three-dimensional image. The technique is called photogrammetry.
Both the wreck and the bottom it lies on are examined.
The survey is estimated to take between 12 and 16 days depending on weather conditions.
After the examination, it takes a few more months before the material is analyzed and a result can be presented.
The background to the new surveys are the holes that were found and presented in the documentary “Estonia – the find that changes everything” which was broadcast in 2020
Source: TT and the Swedish Accident Investigation Board.
[related_posts_by_tax taxonomies=”post_tag”]
The post Estonia’s bow ramp may need to be salvaged: “Important piece of the puzzle” appeared first on Gamingsym.