AgnEf

Arbetsgruppen för utredning av M/S Estonias förlisning

The Working Group for Investigating the MV Estonia Shipwreck
 

International MV Estonia Seminar
Stockholm, May 29-30, 2000

The Summary and Resolution

The Swedish Prime Minister

Göran Persson

SE-103 33 Stockholm

Sweden

20 June 2000

Demand for a new Investigation of the MV Estonia shipwreck

AgnEf (The Working Group for Investigating the MV Estonia Shipwreck) was formed in 1999, is comprised of relatives, survivors, and other people concerned. The Foundation for the Estonia Victims and  their Relatives (SEA) and the association of Relatives (FAE) are both members of AgnEf.

AgnEf’s overall objective is to ensure that a new independent international accident investigation is set up.

On 29-30 May, AgnEf arranged an international seminar on the M/S Estonia shipwreck with the financial support from the Swedish Government. The government was represented by Mona Sahlin, a Minister at Ministry of Industry, Employment, and Communications, who gave an introductory address in which she explained why it was important that the government should respect AgnEf’s endevours, and give continued support to the organization.

The seminar attracted speakers representing national and international interests in the shipping, maritime safety and shipbuilding technology spheres. Participants included international and Swedish institutions for research and education, commercial organizations, representatives of public authorities as well as relatives to the victims and survivors of the disaster.

The following topics were discussed at the seminar: accident investigation  methodology, legal aspects and the new facts which have emerged since the Joint Investigation Commission (JAIC) submitted its final report in 1997.

The speakers included leading international authorities from recognized universities and research institutions. A representative of the United Nations Maritime Organization (IMO) also described the conventions and resolutions which govern international cooperation in aspects of maritime safety discussed at the seminar.

The seminar determined the following points:

That           the JAIC’s description of the sinking of 
                  M/S Estonia is not feasible

That           the damage to Estonia’s visor is the main evidence supporting the JAIC's scenario. The JAIC, however, has been unable to distinguish between damage which occurred in connection with the shipwreck, and damage caused by recovery of the visor. As a result, the JAIC scenario cannot be verified

That            video films taken of the wreck on the seabed indicate damage due to explosions. This damage has not been evaluated by the JAIC

That            there were deficiencies in the methodology employed by the JAIC which are unacceptable in the case of an accident investigation

That            the JAIC’s final report contains contradictory, unverified and erroneous conclusions. In addition, there is no analysis of crucial, documented discoveries which may indicate other potential alternative scenarios

That            there were serious deficiencies in the processing and analysis of the testimonies

In direct contrast with statements made by the JAIC, the seminar also concluded that it had been finally confirmed that M/S Estonia was not seaworthy when she left Tallinn.

All the speakers at the seminar, and a substantial majority of the participants, signed a resolution demanding a new independent accident investigation (resolution enclosed).

Sweden (as well as Estonia and Finland) have signed the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the IMO considers Sweden to be one of the organizations’s mainstays in the process of promoting safety at sea. Under IMO Resolution A.849(20), states are obliged to reopen an accident investigation when new facts emerge which may cast doubt on the results of a previous inquiry.

Sweden is in a position to take unilateral initiatives for a new accident investigation, in accordance with the relevant international conventions and resolutions. New diving measures are not required. However, in accordance with IMO Resolution A.849(20), new facts which may lead to a new inquiry must be referred to other states concerned.

In view of the new facts which have emerged at the international MV Estonia seminar, AgnEf demands that the Swedish Government shall decide to set up a new independent, international investigation of the MV Estonia shipwreck.

In addition, AgnEf requests that the government assigns AgnEf to propose the composition of a new official independent investigation group.

AgnEf - The Working Group for Investigating the MV Estonia Shipwreck

The board,

Signed by:

Anders Ericson, Chairman

Bertil Calamnius, Secretary

Odd Lundkvist

Rolf Sörman

Per-Erik Åsard

Mikael Öun

RESOLUTION

The International MV Estonia Seminar, May 29-30, 2000 in Stockholm has reviewed many aspects of the 1994 sinking of the ro-ro passenger ferry MV Estonia and the investigation of the accident made by the Joint Accident Investigation Commission (JAIC).

During the course of the seminar it has been proved that the JAIC, in their final report, have overlooked or disregarded a number of available facts, thereby arriving at wrong conclusions.

The cause of future safety at sea, justice and moral obligations as well as respect for the victims and their families demands that the investigation shall be reopened, complemented and reworked by the independent investigators.

Stockholm 30 May 2000

Signed by:

A. Papanikolaou – Professor, Director of Ship Design Laboratory, Natioanal Technical University of Athens, Greece

D. Vassalos – Professor, Head of Department of Ship and Marine Technology, Director of the Ship Stability Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, Scotland

Jasionowski – Scientist, the Ship Stability Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, Scotland

G. F. Bemis Jr. – Marine Forensics Panel, Society of Naval Architects and Marine engineers (SNAME), USA

M.G. Fellows – Consultant, diving technician, expert in marin explosives, CEO of Fellows International Ltd, UK

B.H. L. Braidwood – Consultant, diving technician, expert in marin explosives, UK

C. Lindvall – Chairman of Maritime Safety Committee, International Transport workers Federation (ITF), Chairnan of Swedish Ship Officers' Association (SSOA)

O. Rutgersson – Professor of Naval Architecture, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden 

A. Ulfvarson – Professor, Head of Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean

Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

plus another 116 signatures