Followed the MS Estonia tragedy a while ago, read the report, all the conspiracy theories. Interested to see they raised the bow ramp In Summer, but *most* interestingly someone had opened it from its previously partially closed position. This could only be for easier access to the car deck, to get something big in, or - intriguingly - out.
Obviously it was cut away in order to lift it, but this was 2 years prior. Original condition as per 1997 report up until around 2019, when somebody cut it free. Nobody seems to know who.
https://news.err.ee/1608278460/gallery-ms-estonia-wreck-dive-reveals-vehicle-deck-ramp-fully-open
The big question I have here is: Was this to gain access to something on the vehicle deck in order to take it out? I'm no conspiracy theorist but this seems very, very odd. There was originally a 1 meter gap, enough for a diver or a small ROV, but nowhere enough to take something out.
@feonixrift In the 90s this was major conspiracy fodder. I'm surprised nobody has offered an explanation. It did not just fall off - this was intentional. But why?
@feonixrift Original joint team report is here: https://onse.fi/estonia/ It's a good if disturbing read if you have the time.
@sullybiker :bookmarks: time yes, brain... maybe later.
@feonixrift I agree with the conclusion of the report, many do not. The big theory is that she was transporting something illicit from then-post USSR Estonia, something that was enough for the ship to be intentionally sunk. The stories won't go away. And yet, somebody has been down there doing stuff, at a site that is under surveillance.
@feonixrift They also had a plan to cover the wreck in concrete in the 90s...ostensibly for the victims...but you know how that looked.
@sullybiker yeah that makes No Sense. Which, many memorialization things make no sense, but I definitely don't recall seeing that ever suggested for any other ship.
@feonixrift I think it's entirely possible it was carrying something covered by some country's secrets act. They should just come clean about it. Also raise the thing and give those poor 700 odd people a proper burial.
@feonixrift The original dive survey team were satisfied (if not happy) with the idea they would be recovering victims, but this was not done for some reason. Some of the divers had a hard time with it, stating it was relatively simple.
@sullybiker :/ I see this is gonna make a horrifying read.
@feonixrift There's a lot of YouTube footage of the survey dives. Nothing awful (although one has a very obvious leg/ankle/foot) but mostly it's just incredible the work those guys had to do.
@feonixrift This actually fed the conspiracy, that the divers were looking for something specific (rumors of recovering a briefcase from a stateroom) but the simple explanation fits - it was for the benefit of the coroner (they attempted to locate as many victims as possible, until they. - awfully - lost count) and to see if they could potentially recover them.
@sullybiker ironically, the existence of conspiracy theories may be enough of a lure to cause actual conspiring, among even people with enough means to go sawing off underwater doors.
@feonixrift The team that triggered a re-opening of the investigation actually got convicted in a Swedish court for disturbing the wreck, even though it was a survey. So it is very, very hard to do anything down there if not officially sanctioned.
@sullybiker whoa, this is cool, if eerie.