We are staying in Estonia tonight, and we are refreshing our Ocean Campaign plans to be on our way to save our cod! We are celebrating now. We are all very happy that events of the last few days ended on such a high note! I will send out an update tomorrow when I know more about our future plans.

In the meantime, please read about some very important results of our blocking action
in Paldiski, here in Estonia.

What is the latest development?

Today, the Ivory Coast President of the National Investigation Committee, Judge Diakite, sent an official fax to the government of Estonia, requesting the detainment and investigation of the Probo Koala. Then the attorney General of Estonia, under the directive of the Estonian Ministry of Justice, formally requested a criminal investigation and detainment of the Probo Koala.

A fully-fledged criminal investigation is now under way. The investigation is quite extensive and involves: the interrogation of the crew on-board, analysis of waste water and cargo on board to determine if there is evidence of the toxic chemicals found in the Ivory Coast disaster and there will be a general search conducted inside the vessel for documentation, such as nautical log books, etc.

It is alleged that the Estonian Police has been sent to detain the ship in Estonian waters of Paldiski for as long as it is necessary to conduct the criminal investigation. So far, we know there have been dangerous chemicals found in the cleaning water onboard. Other samples which have been taken from the ship also revealed the presence of toxics found in the Ivory Coast toxic dump.

What was the goal of Greenpeace, and have we reached it?

Our goal was to put pressure on the Estonian government to detain the Probo Koala and begin an investigation. We have definitely reached this goal, but we are hoping that this case will serve as an example for EU states in implementation of the Basel Convention and European Union legislation. Greenpeace will continue involvement in this case, and will persist in discussions with the European Commission about the Basel Convention. We would like to ensure that this legislation is being enforced on a political and technical level.

Greenpeace further hopes for full identification of responsible persons behind the Ivory Coast disaster. We are also asking that EU states take responsibility, and act according to the conventions of the European Union

Currently which bodies are involved in the process?

The government of Ivory Coast is involved, along with the government of Estonia. We are not 100 percent certain about the involvement of the European Commission at this point, but we hope this will change in the near future. There is also investigations going on in Holland, and the companies behind the Probo Koala have connections to even more countries

More tomorrow. I promise.