The MS Estonia Ship Disaster

The sinking of the ferry vessel MS Estonia in the Baltic Sea is an accident that will haunt the maritime domain for long years and even beyond. Caused by myriad reasons, this Baltic Sea accident was an event so unprecedented that the extent of the damages caused, both to life and to property, is still shocking even after almost 15 years since the disaster occurred.

As contrary to otherwise held beliefs, the MS Estonia was a ship with almost 15 years of successful ferrying service for four different owners and operators. Originally built at the start of the 80s, the vessel came under the ownership of her last operators, the Estonia Shipping Company, in the early 1990s.

Estonia ferry
Representation Image

Even though her impeccable service record was marred fatally and quite abruptly in the end, each of the vessel’s operational routes were extremely popular and in demand. Even her last operational route specially launched between the provinces of Tallinn (Estonia) to Stockholm (Sweden).

MS Estonia Disaster: Details

The MS Estonia sinking occurred in the year 1994 in the month of September as the vessel was passing through the Baltic Sea from the Estonian province of Tallinn to her intended destination of Stockholm. At the time of the MS Estonia disaster nearly 1,000 people were aboard it, both voyagers and crewing personnel included and only a minuscule proportion of people were managed to be successfully saved from the wreckage of the unfortunate vessel.

The timing of the voyage was such that turbulent climatic conditions plagued the transiting through the Baltic Sea. Heavy gales lashed the vessel, making steerage difficult whilst trying to maintain the speed of the vessel. Thus though a common thread about the actual causation of the disaster remains that the weather played a major role in destabilising the ship, sources vary in their account of how the vessel started to heel in the Baltic Sea.

Many references quote that the negligence of the crewing personnel to shut the doorways at the prow of the ship led to the seepage of water into the main deck of the vessel thus causing the MS Estonia to heel onto her right-hand side (starboard). Other information roots about the accident concur that while there was no negligence on the part of the crew professionals, the structure of the vessel was inadequate to enable the vessel to through the perennial harshness of the Baltic climate. This inadequacy manifested itself when the prow’s doorways were thrown open, thus causing water to seep into the vessel and fatally destroy it.

MS Estonia Wreck

Though all communication channels failed immediately following the accident, feeble messages sent by way of the intermittently collapsing radio lines helped in the rescuing operations, however delayed they were. The rescue attempts were considerably hampered by the weather turbulence. Air rescuing campaigns were inordinately delayed which meant that only other vessels in the immediate vicinity could come to the aid of the distressed. Regrettably, by the time the rescue campaigns could be deployed thoroughly after the initial hassles, almost three-quarters of the voyagers had succumbed as the vessel sank to the depths of the frigid Baltic.

While some fortunate kin were able to receive the lost ones’ bodies from the water’s cold hold, kith of more than half the number of the dead didn’t even get this opportunity. The bodies of these voyagers still lie within the vessel, completely decomposed, as the MS Estonia serves as an unorthodox crematorium.

Though these less-fortunate kith and kin speak about exhuming the bodies from their watery graveyard, the Swedish governmental officials decided in lieu of the exhumation to uphold the MS Estonia wreck as a memorial site. Alongside several European nations ratified what came to be known as the Estonia Agreement, in the year following the accident. As per the terms of this agreement, these nations and their nationals were barred from using the memorial as a underwater diving locale.

Suspicion of Naval Armaments Usage

Soon following the MS Estonia disaster, rumours started circulating that the vessel was utilised to ferry naval armaments. The cause of the MS Estonia sinking was also placed on the accidental blow-up of the explosives stored within the ferry’s confines. However several drawn-out analyses concluded that the vessel was merely a voyager ferry which had encountered an accidental catastrophe in the most unexpected of manner with emotionally debilitating repercussions.

References environmentalgraffiti, unnamedharald, lamiaestonia

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The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.


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Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for up-to-date, comprehensive, and insightful coverage of the maritime industry. Dedicated to offering the latest news, trends, and analyses in shipping, marine technology, regulations, and global maritime affairs, Marine Insight News Network prides itself on delivering accurate, engaging, and relevant information.

About Author

Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for up-to-date, comprehensive, and insightful coverage of the maritime industry. Dedicated to offering the latest news, trends, and analyses in shipping, marine technology, regulations, and global maritime affairs, Marine Insight News Network prides itself on delivering accurate, engaging, and relevant information.

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2 Comments

  1. Hi
    Thanks for this article.
    I would like to suggest an edit . . . “MS Estonia serves as an unorthodox crematorium” . . . a crematorium is a place where bodies are cremated/burnt. Mausoleum would be a more appropriate word.
    Thank you

  2. The arms traffic was later confirmed by Swedish parliament. Watch the documentary by Discovery.

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