MS Estonia

Also known as M/S Estonia, Viking Sally, Silja Star, Wasa King, Estonia, MV Estonia

cruise ferry which sunk on 28 September 1994

Key facts

Name: 1980–1990: Viking Sally 1990–1991: Silja Star 1991–1993: Wasa King 1993–1994: Estonia
Namesake: Estonia (as Estonia )
Owner: 1980–1988: Rederi Ab Sally 1988–1992: Effoa 1992–1993: Effdo 3 Oy 1993–1994: Estline Marine Co Ltd
Operator: 1980–1987: Rederi Ab Sally ( Viking Line traffic) 1987–1990: Rederi AB Slite (Viking Line traffic) 1990–1991: Silja Line 1991–1993: Wasa Line 1993–1994: Estline
Port of registry: 1980–1991: Mariehamn , Finland 1991–1993: Vaasa , Finland 1993–1994: Tallinn , Estonia
Ordered: 11 September 1979
Builder: Meyer Werft , Papenburg , West Germany
Laid down: 18 October 1979
Launched: 26 April 1980
Completed: 27 April 1980
Acquired: 29 June 1980
In service: 5 July 1980
Identification: Call sign : ESTE IMO number : 7921033
Fate: Capsized and sank on 28 September 1994
Type: Car-Passenger Ferry
Tonnage: 15,598 GT 3,006 DWT
Length: 155.43 m (509 ft 11 in) (as built) 157.02 m (515.16 ft) (1984 onwards)
Beam: 24.21 m (79 ft 5 in)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: MS Estonia model.jpg
Length: 157.02
Speed: 21

Show 11 more facts

Commons category: Estonia (ship, 1980)
Commons gallery: M/S Estonia
yard number: 590
gross tonnage: 21794
service entry: 1980-07-05
draft: 5.5
call sign: ESTE
beam: 24.2
maximum capacity: 2000
service retirement: 1994-09-28
date of official opening: 1980-04-26

Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~8 min read

Article

MS Estonia was a car-passenger ferry built in 1980 for the Finnish shipping company Rederi Ab Sally by Meyer Werft, in Papenburg, West Germany. She was deployed on ferry routes between Finland and Sweden by various companies (first Viking Line, then EffJohn) until the end of January 1993, when she was sold to Nordström & Thulin for use on Estline's Tallinn–Stockholm route. The ship's sinking on 28 September 1994, in the Baltic Sea between Sweden, Finland and Estonia, was one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters of the 20th century, claiming 852 lives. An official inquiry found that failure of the locks on the bow visor allowed water to flood the car deck and quickly capsize the ship. The report also noted a lack of crew action. A 2023 investigation noted additional construction flaws in the bow visor.

59°22.92′N 21°40.92′E / 59.38200°N 21.68200°E / 59.38200; 21.68200