27. september 2003

When the Estonia sailed out of Tallinn on her final trip in 1994, the Swedish authorities were aware that she was not seaworthy.

This information was the result of a five-hour inspection on the same day, indicating that the Estonia had 14 serious deficiencies.

These defects are documented in an official "Report of Inspection in Accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control". The Maritime Safety Inspectorate, Sweden is specified as the "Name of Issuing Authority" for this report, which was dated 27 September 1994.

Five of the deficiencies noted were designated "Code 17", indicating "Master instructed to rectify deficiency before departure". However, no activity report indicating that these deficiencies were rectified has been subsequently traced. The Estonia left port, but sank a few hours later, with the loss of 852 lives.

The Joint Accident Investigation Commission (JAIC), comprising representatives of Sweden, Finland and Estonia - the three nations principally involved – has failed to indicate the reasons for this disaster. On the other hand, the JAIC – despite the existence of the "Report of Inspection" – declared that the Estonia was seaworthy when it left port on its final voyage. In response to direct questions, the Swedish Maritime Safety Inspectorate has claimed that it had no formal, legal obligation to stop the Estonia's final voyage.

This issue should be subject to an independent, international evaluation! Did the Swedish Maritime Administration really have no possibility of stopping the Estonia's departure?

Mats Holm

Susanna Popova

Swedish authors and journalists