20 years since the MS ESTONIA disaster

[Dowly]

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 .
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.

Twenty minutes later, at 1:50 AM on September 28, 1994, the Estonia
slipped from the radar screens and sank in 90 meters (275ft) of water.
Out of 989 people, only 138 were rescued (final survivor figure is 137, one died later in hospital).

Estonia's mayday call and subsequent radio traffic between nearby ships:
Part 1 -
Part 2 -
Part 3 -
Part 4 -
Part 5 -
Part 6 -

Pretty 'OK' english language documentary about the disaster:


Can't believe it's been 20 years already.

Rest in peace all who perished that night.