The first sign of trouble aboard Estonia was when a metallic bang was heard, caused by a heavy wave hitting the bow doors around 01:00, when the ship was on the outskirts of the Turku archipelago, but an inspection—limited to checking the indicator lights for the ramp and visor—showed no problems. Boesten, E. (2006): The M/S Estonia Disaster and the Treatment of Human Remains. MS Estonia disappeared from the radar screens of other ships at around 01:50 AM EEST in international waters, about 22 nautical miles (41 kilometres) from the Finnish island of Utö. Cooperating with colleague Inge Pitsner, Einar Ellermaa has come out with «People of Estonia», a book looking back to Baltic Sea’s severest shipwreck in times of peace 20 years ago, and recounting the stories of those that were saved – as well as the pain of people who lost loved ones. The ship was fully loaded, and was listing slightly to starboard because of poor cargo distribution.[13]. (PDF) Identification of victims from the M/S Estonia | Helena Ranta - Academia.edu With 852 victims from 17 different countries, the sinking of the Estonia was Europe’s most severe passenger ferry disaster. At about 01:20, a quiet female voice called "Häire, häire, laeval on häire", Estonian for "Alarm, alarm, there is alarm on the ship", over the public address system, which was followed immediately by an internal alarm for the crew, then one minute later by the general lifeboat alarm. 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On the night of September 27-28, 1994, the ferry MS Estonia, carrying 989 passengers between Tallinn and Stockholm, sank in the Baltic Sea, hit by hard weather and winds measuring 9 on the Beaufort scale, which caused enormous waves. [21] There were also general criticisms of the delays in sounding the alarm, the passivity of the crew, and the lack of guidance from the bridge. The wreck was examined and videotaped by remotely operated underwater vehicles and by divers from a Norwegian company, Rockwater A/S, contracted for the investigation work. The vessel was carrying 989 passengers and crew, 852 of whom died. Download the ERR News app for Android and iOS now and never miss an update! According to the Swedish Ministry of Defence, no such equipment was on board on the day of the disaster, and previous investigations by the Swedish Customs Service found no reports of any anomalous activity around the day of the disaster. [20] The subsequent failure of the bow ramp allowed water into the vehicle deck, which was identified as the main cause of the capsizing and sinking:[19] RORO ferries with their wide vehicle decks are particularly vulnerable to capsizing if the car deck is even slightly flooded because of free surface effect: the fluid's swirling motion across such a large area hampers the boat's ability to right itself after rolling with a wave. The Baltic ferry Estonia, en route from Tallinn to Stockholm with some 1,000 passengers and crew on board, sank on September 28, 1994. The Discovery Channel that will air a new five-part documentary series on the MS Estonia shipwreck in the Nordic region on Monday promises that “a find that will change everything” will be revealed. 'Estonia is the most successful state in central Europe,' declared President Meri, in an interview with the Independent on Sunday at his brick and stone mansion outside Tallinn on Friday night. Pursuant to an agreement concluded between Estonia, Finland and Sweden a "Joint Accident Investigation Commission" for the investigation of the capsizing of the passenger vessel MV ESTONIA on 28 September 1994 was set up on 29 September 1994, in … [JAIC 2] The commission estimated that up to 310 passengers reached the outer decks, 160 of whom boarded the life-rafts or lifeboats.[17]. [13] Estonia was turned to port and slowed before her four engines cut out completely.[13]. Download the ERR News app for Android and iOS now and never miss an update! The chief mate of the Viking Line cruiseferry Mariella tracked Estonia's speed by radar at approximately 14.2 knots (26.3 km/h; 16.3 mph) before the first signs of distress, while the Silja Europa's officers estimated her speed at 14 to 15 knots (26 to 28 km/h; 16 to 17 mph) at midnight. [7] MS Estonia sinking: The deadliest accident in European waters The incident The Estonian-flagged Ro-Ro passenger ferry Estonia had left Tallinn, Estonia, on 27 September 1994, planned to arrive at Stockholm, Sweden, carrying 989 people, 803 of whom were passengers. Most of the victims of the September 1994 ferry sinking were trapped inside after the Estonia capsized in bad weather and heavy seas off the coast of Finland, on a journey from Tallinn to Stockholm. The ship's 1994 sinking, in the Baltic Sea between Sweden, Åland, Finland and Estonia, was one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century. In January 1993, at the same time when EffJohn decided to merge Wasa Line's operations into Silja Line, Wasa King was sold to Nordström & Thulin for use on Estline's Tallinn–Stockholm traffic under the name Estonia. The radio operator on Silja Europa, chief mate Teijo Seppelin, replied in English: "Estonia, are you calling mayday?" The Joint Accident Investigation Commission. Arvid Kalle Aadli, Passenger. It was the worst post-war maritime disaster in Europe, claiming 852 lives. The ferry MS Estonia sank in the early hours of 28 September 1994 while en route from Tallinn to Stockholm. Seven over 55 years of age survived and there were no survivors under age 12. German journalist Jutta Rabe and the left-wing magazine New Statesman claim that laboratory tests on debris recovered illegally from Estonia's bow yielded trace evidence of a deliberate explosion, which they allege was concealed by the Swedish, British, and Russian governments to cover up an intelligence operation smuggling military hardware via the civilian ferry. The windows gave way to the powerful waves as the ship listed and the sea reached the upper decks. The Baltic ferry Estonia, en route from Tallinn to Stockholm with some 1,000 passengers and crew on board, sank on September 28, 1994. This scheme had worked for the relatively small number of accidents involving sinkings, particularly as most ships have few people on board.[16]. Wilson, Drew (2006), "The Hole: Another look at the sinking of the Estonia Ferry on September 28th 1994". According to survivor accounts, the ship sank stern first after taking a list of 90 degrees. MS Estonia was a cruiseferry built in 1979/80 at the German shipyard Meyer Werft in Papenburg. It was a stormy night. Former prime minister Mart Laar said a new investigation into the circumstances of the MS Estonia's demise should certainly get underway following footage aired in a documentary this week which showed a gaping hole in the wreck's hull, but added baseless speculation should be avoided. In 1993, the new ferry company Estline bought the Viking Sally and renamed her Estonia, after the European country. [33][34] The sinking of the MS Estonia was the largest maritime disaster to happen in the Baltic Seas during peacetime and the second-largest European maritime disaster in peacetime, with only the Titanic holding a higher death-toll. Now, the victims have more reasons than ever to continue demanding answers from the governments of Sweden, Estonia and Finland, which during these years have been reluctant to continue investigating what happened. Hailed as a hero after the disaster in 1994, Barney now wants to know the truth about a connection between Britain’s spies, Cold War missile secrets and the capsizing of the MS Estonia. [28] The Swedish and Estonian governments subsequently launched separate investigations, which both confirmed that non-explosive military equipment was aboard the ship on 14 and 20 September 1994. [JAIC 7] The bow visor was under-designed, as manufacturing and approval process did not consider the visor and its attachments as critical items regarding ship safety. 2.1 The Distress Communication", HELCOM reports a noticeable drop in shipping accidents in the Baltic, Directorate-General for Transport and Energy (European Commission), "The Revised SOLAS Regulations for Ro-Ro Ferries", "Passenger information required on all passenger ships from 1 January 1999", Simplified Voyage Data Recorders -Why choose float free, Liferaft Systems Australia: Maib Interim Safety Recommendation on The Use of Vertical Chute Type Marine Evacuation Systems, "Death in the Baltic: the MI6 connection", "Finnish Estonia Commission members still reject explosion theories", "Utredningen om transport av försvarsmateriel på M/S Estonia", "Riigikogu Committee of Investigation to Ascertain the Circumstances Related to the Export of Military Equipment from the Territory of the Republic of Estonia on the Ferry Estonia in 1994 – Final Report", "Documentary: MS Estonia has a large hole in the hull", "Head of MS Estonia investigation: Estonia sank on collision with submarine", "Estonian tuho lietsoi salaliittoteorioita", "Justitieutskottets betänkande 1994/95: JuU23 Gravfrid över m/s Estonia", "Agreement between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden regarding the M/S Estonia", "Sjöfartsverket höll tyst om stoppade Estonia-dykare", "Built From Disaster Season 1 Episode 2: Ships", "Chapter 5.4 – Meteorological conditions", "Condition Survey of the Vessel "Estonia" for the Swedish National Maritime Administration. This contributed to the rapid sinking. MS Estonia‘s sinking simulation. On a cold night in september 1994 the "MS Estonia" a 20.300 ton passenger vessel left the port of Tallinn enroute for Stockholm. Estonia's victims to rest at sea 'I took her hand and then we jumped' An official report into the incident in 1997 concluded that the disaster was caused by a problem with the bow door locking system. 28 September 1994 . Estonia victims list. She was painted in Silja Line's colours, renamed Silja Star and placed on the same route that she had plied for Viking Line: Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm. Pursuant to an agreement concluded between Estonia, Finland and Sweden a "Joint Accident Investigation Commission" for the investigation of the capsizing of the passenger vessel MV ESTONIA on 28 September 1994 was set up on 29 September 1994, in … A survivor's story from MS Estonia. [23] New International Maritime Organization (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) liferaft regulations for rescue from listing ships in rough water were introduced [24], New designs, the "citadel concept" once again influenced by Estonia, aim to ensure damaged ships have sufficient buoyancy to remain afloat, though cost will determine if any are built. The investigative committee concluded that the shipwreck was caused by the ferry’s bow visor suffering storm damage that caused the hull to take on water. On the 28th September 1994, MS Estonia was in the middle of its ... an investigation has been opened into the sinking of the vessel to final give answers to the families of the victims. The Estonia. Liskeard: Exposure. December 1997 ESTONIA . This investigation found a 4-metre hole in the ship's hull. SOLAS 90, which came into effect in 2010, specifies existing passenger ships' stability requirements and those in North West Europe must also be able to survive 50 centimetres (20 in) of water on the car deck. The following spring Silja Star began her service with Wasa Line, another company owned by EffJohn. [5] Shortly after the incident, Stefan Torssell was hired at the Swedish Maritime Administration and met the victims families and … The ferry sank to the depth of 74 to 85 metres (243 to 279 ft) of water. [37] The treaty is, however, only binding for citizens of the countries that are signatories. 15 December 2020 – On 14 December, the Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop met with representatives of Estonian organisations that represent the relatives of victims of the MS Estonia disaster. [2] Ships rescued 34 and helicopters 104; the ferries played a much smaller part than the planners had intended because it was too dangerous to launch their man-overboard (MOB) boats or lifeboats. 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