The ship was carrying 989 people from 17 countries – it sank in September 1994 in the Baltic and is considered one of the deadliest shipwrecks of the 20th century
The MS Estonia was a cargo ship that sank in September 1994 in the Baltic Sea, killing at least 852 people. There were 989 people from 17 countries on board: 803 passengers and 186 crew members. Most of the passengers were Swedish while the crew members were mostly Estonian.
It is one of the deadliest of the 20th century and the deadliest shipwreck that has occurred in peacetime European waters.
The conclusion of the official investigation in 1997 indicated that there was a problem with the ship’s catapult. But in 2020, a Discovery Channel documentary called “Estonia: The Enigma of a Shipwreck” cast doubt on the official conclusion as it revealed a large crack in the ship’s hull, which was previously unknown. The four-meter-wide rift, according to the experts cited in the documentary, could only have been caused by an external force such as an explosion or collision with a rock.
The documentary’s revelations prompted new underwater inspections in 2021.
Estonia-tutkimusten altsavien johtopäästen ätan Estonia ei ollut merikelpoinen, kertovat autolautan uppoamista svalvaneet authorities.
👉 Read more: https://t.co/iyHncji10W#mtvuutiset #estonia #msestonia #autolautta #itämeri pic.twitter.com/JagpSttXL3
— MTV Uutiset (@MTVUutiset) January 23, 2023
Finally, according to the conclusion of a new investigation by Swedish, Estonian and Finnish authorities published today, which rejects the conclusions of a recent documentary, the wreck of the ferry Estonia was not caused by an explosion or collision but by a defect in the ship’s bow catapult, which did not he would have to obtain a license to sail.
Had the appropriate inspection of the catapult been performed, “its construction defects would have been discovered and the accident would likely not have occurred,” according to the new finding, presented as “preliminary.”
“Based on the evidence gathered to date, there is no indication of a bow-level explosion” or “collision with a ship or other object,” the report said.
MS Estonia investigative committee rules out impact as shipwreck causehttps://t.co/LfSlCVxIVR
— Nordic News (@Nordic_News) January 23, 2023
An international commission of inquiry had already concluded in 1997 a defect in the Estonia’s bow catapult locking system, which allowed water to enter and quickly sink.
Survivors and relatives of the victims had largely disputed the findings of the first inquiry and fought for more than twenty years to reopen the file on the wreck.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
