The Sinking of the MS Estonia

The MS Estonia Wreck

On the evening of September 27, 1994, the cruiseferry MS Estonia left Tallinn, Estonia, destined for Stockholm, Sweden, across the Baltic Sea, a trip of 14–15 hours. As Estonia's largest ship, it symbolized their recent independence from Russia.

On board were 989 passengers and crew—803 passengers (mostly Swedes) and 186 crew (mostly Estonians). It was fully loaded with vehicles and cargo, so much so that it listed slightly due to poor cargo distribution. The Estonia headed off into near-gale conditions with 40 mph winds whipping up waves nearly 20 feet high.

MS Estonia Characteristics

• “MS” stands for “Motorized Ship”
• Type: Cruiseferry
• Tonnage: 15,566 GRT; 2,800 DWT
• Length: 157.02 m (515.16 ft)
• Beam: 24.21 m (79 ft 5 in)
• Draught: 5.55 m (18 ft 3 in)
• Decks: 9
• Speed: 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)
• Capacity: 2,000 passengers; 460 cars

The Sinking

At around 1:00 AM, there was a loud bang from the bow. Unrealized at the time, the “visor”, the front part of the ship which opened up to allow vehicles on and off the Estonia, had been damaged by the continuous pounding of the waves and a hinge had failed. None of the warning lights indicating an open visor lit up because the sensors were positioned such that they would detect if the visor weren't completely closed, not damaged.

Passengers and crew reported similar sounds from the front of the ship for the next 15 minutes until the visor actually separated and water poured in, flooding the vehicle deck and causing the Estonia to list heavily starboard (to its right). A few minutes later the crew sounded a general lifeboat alarm followed by a Mayday, although not in the correct international format.

By 1:30, the ship was on its side, trapping most of its passengers in their cabins. 20 minutes later, at 1:50 AM on September 28, 1994, the Estonia slipped from the radar screens and sank in 275 feet of water.

Rescuers

The first ferry to reach the scene, the Mariella, arrived at 2:12 and started winching life rafts into the sea, but a full-scale emergency was not declared until 2:30 when the extent of the disaster became clear. Other ferries arrived, as did rescue helicopters from Finland and Sweden, and began searching for survivors.

It is estimated that only 310 people were able to get outside the ship, but because of the frigid waters, no children under age 12 and only seven over age 55 survived the freezing seas. Only 137 people survived the sinking of the Estonia; 852 lives were lost. It was the biggest peacetime loss of life on the Baltic Sea in history.

Investigations and Reports

Official investigations concluded that the bow “visor” was “under-designed” for the Baltic Sea. The Estonia, they concluded, was designed for coastal waters, not the open sea. They were also critical of the crew for not properly investigating the noises and delays in sounding alarms and lack of guidance from the bridge.

The builders of the ship, the Meyer shipyard in Germany, said poor maintenance and excessive speed were the problem.

Aftermath

Despite pleas from families of those lost and survivors to raise the ship to recover the bodies for land burial, it was decided that would be too expensive so, instead, the ship was entombed with thousands of tons of sand and pebbles.

A year later, a treaty called the Estonia Agreement 1995 between Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Russia and the United Kingdom was signed, prohibiting their citizens from even approaching the wreck, declaring it an official burial ground. Finnish radar monitors the site.

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Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories abound about the sinking of the MS Estonia:

1. The ship was transporting drugs and stolen Russian military contraband destined for the CIA by the UK's MI6.
2. The death toll should be higher as about 150 Iraqi Kurds were aboard, smuggled inside vehicles.
3. Terrorist bombs caused the disaster.
4. NATO exercises that night jammed communications at precisely the time the Estonia first encountered problems. Also, surely having heard the Estonia's distress signals, no NATO ships or helicopters offered assistance.
5. The Russians were responsible.

Given the heavy-handedness of the various governments, it's not surprising at the number of conspiracy theories about the sinking. The very fact that it was entombed and that there is a treaty forbidding anyone to investigate the wreckage is bound to lend credence to some sort of cover-up or alternate explanation for one of the world's biggest maritime disasters.

Images Disappearing

With all the controversy surrounding the sinking of MS Estonia and the various conspiracy theories that just won't die, it does seem odd that over the years public domain images related to MS Estonia are disappearing. For this article alone, two different images of the ferry have been pulled from the public domain and even a public domain image of the Estonian Monument has disappeared.

In fact, I can now find no public domain photos of MS Estonia and had to resort to showing a model. It may mean nothing. It may be that the authors are asserting their rights. It may be an attempt to blunt bad publicity. Conspiracists will read something more into it.

The Latest Theory: Submarine Collision

In 2020, a documentary team, using a German-flagged ship to circumvent the prohibition to approach the site, used a remote-controlled probe to investigate the wreckage. They discovered a previously unknown 4 meters-wide (13 feet) hole in the hull that is “unlikely” to have been caused by a rock on the seabed, but, more likely a collision with a submarine. Estonia, Sweden, and Finland have agreed to assess the new information.

Inside the Memorial to the MS Estonia in Stockholm, Sweden.

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Memorial on Hiiumaa Island, Estonia

On the northern-most point of the Island of Hiiumaa is a memorial to the 852 victims entombed in the wreckage of the MS Estonia 30 miles to the north. The 12-meter tall rusting frame leans as if it were sinking.

A pivoting cross with a bronze bell at the end hangs down in the center. On the bell four children's faces are sculpted. When the wind blows at the same strength and in the same direction it was blowing the night of the disaster, the bell tolls.

More Famous Shipwrecks

• 5 of the Worst Shipwrecks in History
  Maritime disasters, whether in times of war or peace, can be some of the deadliest, most devastating events imaginable. These five shipwrecks are some of the worst in history.

© 2012 David Hunt

Comments

David Hunt (author) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 27, 2014:

Thanks, Perspycacious. The Baltic Sea entombs tens and tens of thousands of victims from many sinkings thoughout history. Hope your Thanksgiving was happy.

Demas W Jasper from Today's America and The World Beyond on November 27, 2014:

The lost deserved to be remembered. Fine Hub. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. (First time I ever heard of a ship being entombed!)

David Hunt (author) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 15, 2014:

Thank you, askformore. It was a terrible tragedy that I believe should not be allowed to be forgotten as the years pass.

askformore lm on November 15, 2014:

Thank you for an interesting hub about the Estonia sinking. I hope that the complete truth about this will be revealed.

I am frequently in Estonia and have friends who lost a relative.

David Hunt (author) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on January 13, 2013:

Thank you for commenting, Trail Finder. There seems to be a lot of strangeness about a lot of things that have happened in the Baltic Sea, which has a long history of tragedies, both man-made and natural.

Trail Finder on January 13, 2013:

It is my understanding that all the Baltic Sea countries signed the prohibition treaty, but also interestingly also the UK. What has the UK got to do with the wreck and why should it be involved? Definitely strange.

David Hunt (author) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 06, 2012:

SilverRingvee, if you do write it, that would be a great hub and very interesting. Good luck!

Silver Ringvee from Estonia on November 06, 2012:

Yes, but unfortunately I can not remember these times very well. I am quite sure that most of the information of Estonia is in Estonian - my native language, so maybe I will write an hub about information which you may not no.

David Hunt (author) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 06, 2012:

I am very glad to meet you, SilverRingvee and glad you read and commented here. I'm very sorry to hear about your relatives being on board. It must have been very difficult for your family.

Silver Ringvee from Estonia on November 06, 2012:

Sinking of Estonia is very serious topic for me. I have read many stories about it and seen many movies. There were some of my relatives on board, and my father was working at Tallinn port this evening. I am from Estonia and I have had several vojages from Tallinn to Stockholm. Usually ships make a little stop to commemorate Estonia. I am really interested in this topic.

David Hunt (author) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on October 29, 2012:

Yes. I think that the prohibition feeds many conspiracy theories. But it is my understanding that there are many shipwreck gravesites that are off limits in the Baltic Sea. Thanks for commenting, Enelle.

Enelle Lamb from Canada's 'California' on October 29, 2012:

Very interesting piece. I didn't realize that an agreement had been signed prohibiting any contact with the wreck....does make you wonder though yes?