MS Estonia

Scale model of MS Estonia
History
Name	1980–1990: Viking Sally 1990–1991: Silja Star 1991–1993: Wasa King 1993–1994: Estonia[1]
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
Yard number	590
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
General characteristics
Type	Cruiseferry
Tonnage	15,598 GT[2] 3,006 DWT[2]
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)
Draught	5.60 m (18 ft 4 in)
Decks	9
Ice class	1 A
Installed power	4 × MAN 8L40/45 17,625 kW (23,636 hp) (combined)
Speed	21.1 knots (39.1 km/h; 24.3 mph)
Capacity	2,000 passengers 1,190 passenger berths 460 cars

MS Estonia was a cruiseferry built in 1980 for the Finnish shipping company Rederi Ab Sally by Meyer Werft, in Papenburg, West Germany. It was employed on ferry routes between Finland and Sweden by various companies (first Viking Line, then EffJohn) until the end of January 1993, when it 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 worst peacetime maritime disasters of the 20th century, claiming 852 lives. An official inquiry found that failure of the locks on the bow visor caused 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.^[3]

59°23′0″N 21°40′0″E / 59.38333°N 21.66667°E / 59.38333; 21.66667