As soon as the weather
permitted Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) equipped with video cameras were
sent down to the wreck on 02.10.94 and produced remarkably sharp pictures,
which showed, among other things, that the visor was missing and that its
hinges and locking devices were broken. Apparently two ROVs were used which
were given the names "Jutta" and "Siimo" and which produced
an unknown number of video films of which three films are available. These
are:
video 1 (Jutta
2) 02.10.94 1 hour 9 min.
video 2 (Jutta
1) 02.10.94 3 hours 4 min. 28 sec.
video 4 (Siimo
1) 02.10.94 2 hours 56 min. 40 sec.
Copies of these three
videos were handed over to this 'Group of Experts' in March 1995 by the Finnish
part of the JAIC as "raw material". This turned out to be untrue, because
relevant parts, e.g. showing the starboard hull and unknown objects on the
bottom of the sea, had been cut out. Therefore a professional examination
of the video films by experts has been conducted and revealed that the films
have been cut frequently, mostly up to 3 minutes, sometimes up to 17 minutes.
The cuts deleted footage taken when the ROVs were inspecting parts of the
wreck and also debris on the sea bottom. Consequently it has to be assumed
that the most interesting parts permitting conclusions have been cut out of
the "raw" material.
The results of the
professional examination of all available video films are outlined in Subchapter
34.6 - "Investigation Report of Video Tapes featuring the Car/Passenger
Ferry "Estonia" by Disengage/UK. They indicate among other things that
there were other activities around the wreck in progress.
25.2
The
ROV Inspection on 05.10.94
On 05.10.94 the
Finnish vessel TURSAS and the Estonian vessel EVA-200 allegedly started the
search for the visor and according to the book "The Unfinished Logbook"
by Andi Meister the video films showed the various parts on the sea bottom
which had fallen off the ESTONIA as she was drifting towards her sinking position
and possibly also already before.
These video
films are not available. Reference is made to the explanation in Chapter 24
and the relevant enclosures.
25.3
The ROV Inspection on 9/10.10.94
On 09.10.94 and 10.10.94
the ROVs were sent down again to film particular parts of the wreck more in
detail, but also the sea bottom.
The result
- as far as it is known - was video film III - 4 hours 5 minutes long - and
the detailed examination by the video experts has revealed that also this
"raw" material has been cut in four places, viz.
It
has to be assumed that the parts showing the visor were cut out. Nevertheless
video III is the most productive of all videos made by ROVs as will be shown
later.
It is, however,
most interesting to note that in particular all footage of the area of the
starboard hull in way of 0-deck, approximately between frames 80-120, has
been deleted from all the available videos.
Otherwise the
films show pictures of high quality which are of great value for the investigation.
As not all the locations of relevance were accessible for ROVs it was decided
therefore - and for other reasons - to have the wreck examined by divers and
again filmed by ROVs between 1st and 4th December 1994 (see Chapter 27).
