During the prayer reading, Bishop Tiit Salumäe read out the address of Urmas Viilma, archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, in connection with the launch of the surveys of the wreck of MV Estonia at the shipwreck site. The ceremony was held on board the vessel Kindral Kurvits of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
Today marked the beginning of 10-day-long preliminary surveys at the shipwreck site of MV Estonia, the objective of which is to assess and document the orientation of the ship and the condition of the surrounding seafloor. The preliminary surveys will be conducted in collaboration between Estonian and Swedish safety investigation authorities, geology experts, and universities. The surveys will be carried out using the Estonian multi-purpose icebreaker EVA-316 and the Swedish research vessel Electra af Askö. Finnish authorities have issued a navigation warning to keep other vessels out of the survey area. Additional security is being provided by the Finnish vessel Turva.
