Länk till rapporten om sjunkförloppet. Inte ett ord om att det skulle behövas ett hål i botten.
http://www.estoniasamlingen.se/SSPA/0_Final_Report_Research_Study_on_the_Sinking_Seque nce_of_MV_Estonia.pdf
Rapporten är framtagen av ett konsortium med bland annat Chalmers och flera andra.
Rapporten slår fast exakt det som hände. Jag citererar:
The most probable foundering scenario as identified in the project is:
• The ramp is forced partially open by the bow visor prior to complete visor detachment from the vessel.
• Water is entering the car deck through the openings at the sides of the ramp resulting in a slowly increasing starboard heel angle.
• The ramp remained partially open until the bow visor detaches from the hull.
• The ramp fully opens and is crashing down onto the forepeak deck as the visor completely detaches from the vessel.
• Large amount of water is entering the car deck resulting in a rapidly growing starboard heel angle up to about 35-40 degrees.
• The ramp may be fluctuating up and down due to the interaction between waves and the pitch motions.
• Water is flooding down to the lower decks through vents and centre casing.
• The officer on the bridge is decreasing the ship speed and starts a port turn.
• After turning the ship heel is still increasing and the Main Engines stop.
• The heel is increasing and the Auxiliary Engines trip and stop when the heel angle is more than 45 degrees.
• The ship is now drifting in wind, waves and current and when the heel is about 80-85 degrees the Emergency Generator shuts down.
• The ship capsizes.
• The ship sinks with bow up.
• The aft part of the ship is hitting the seabed first.
The foundering sequence as described is estimated to take about one hour.
(i verkligheten gick det något snabbare, ca 45 minuter)