New evidence prompts renewed speculation about cause of 1994 Baltic ferry disaster

[capnsensible]

We need accurate pictures of the rest of the hull to determine in the hole is impact damage from hitting the seabed after is sank. I would expect to see collateral creasing and deformation all the way up both sides of the ship. Think in terms of bending a cardboard bicsuit box. There would also be evidence of the ship no longer being straight.

The fact Sweden has ordered further investigations is telling.

We? ???

 

[jamie N]

I don't think that there'd have been much of an impact on the seabed given the water depth being less than LOA, which would possibly be indicated also by lack of damage to the hull.
I did a survey on a ferry MV Finnbirch in the Baltic, in 2007. Virtually no damage seen underwater, and she was a bit smaller and in slightly deeper water possibly; can't recall properly!
The MAYDAY was recorded along with a picture of the vessel. I believe that there were two fatalities, one from hypothermia and the 2nd, one of the mates, became entangled on the bridge wing with his lifejacket.
Apologies for a bit of a thread drift.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I was growing up in N.I. but a long way from Larne, at home that day with my Dad, the weather was horrible, he had the radio on all day as the search went on for her, it seemed to be forever before she was found and the experience still moves me even though we did not know anyone aboard.

My father was a student at the time and on the day was doing field work in Greenock. He remembered watching ships unable to dock and others dragging their anchors at the Tail of the Bank and thinking "If it's this bad on the sheltered waters of the Clyde, what on earth is it like in more exposed waters?" Next day he found out.

 

[Kukri]

The “Princess Victoria” disaster was one of the first of many involving roll on roll off ferries.

A year later there was another, but it was in Japan, so it is not much remembered here. Both the “Princess Victoria” and the “Toya Maru” were crossing about twenty miles of open water; both were owned by nationalised railway companies. Both had stern doors which were awkward to use and inadequate.

Tōya Maru - Wikipedia

I must admit that I don’t like these ships. I feel that they are deceptive. They operate over short distances and they are, for most people, just a part of everyday life.

They always look safe. They look like deep sea passenger ships used to look like. But they are a radically different sort of ship.

I have never operated one, and I am no sort of expert on them.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I must admit that I don’t like these ships. I feel that they are deceptive. They operate over short distances and they are, for most people, just a part of everyday life.

I crossed to IJmuiden in pretty fierce conditions (F10 forecast) a couple of years ago, and thoughts about past RORO incidents were with me. I was reassured to see that big waterproof doors were closed every so often (every five of six car) along the entire car deck. They don't use these in calmer conditions, or at least I have never seen them used, nor gaps left to deploy them.

It was still a pretty hairy trip. We were five decks above sea level and had waves - not spray - hitting the cabin window. I wasn't sick, but I was thrown clean out of my bunk, twice.

 

[NorthRising]

and dismissed the hole in the hull , or did he venture a " reason " for its being ?

Given the hole in the side has only recently been documented I'm not sure what point you make.

 

[LittleSister]

A bit more info on the documentary, etc. -
'Maybe now we'll get some answers': film-maker challenges official story of Estonia ferry disaster

 

[kaj]

Possible explanation for the holes found on the side of m/s Estonia. You need to let Google translate.

 

[NorthRising]

Possible explanation for the holes found on the side of m/s Estonia. You need to let Google translate.

I'm sceptical of some of the theories associated with the sinking of the Estonia. The idea that the bow visor floated down the side of the boat and smashed into it penettating the hull twice is to me surely bonkers? It surely weighs a significant amount and would have plummeted to the seafloor very rapidly after break off?

 

[kaj]

Part of the explanation presented by Ph.D. Klaus Rahka is (by Google translation) "Thanks to the visor’s air pocket, it stayed on the surface for up to twenty seconds. During that time, it traveled all the way to the side of a ship traveling seven meters per second and caused the holes now found."

The article cited in the opening post says: "Based on [his] findings, RAHKA has already been in contact with the [Finnish] Accident Investigation Board and the corresponding authorities in Estonia and Sweden. He has also written an as yet unpublished report on his findings and calculations. "

I suppose we will have some conclusions on these findings in due course.

 

[kdot]

MV Estonia Preliminary Assessment: Intermediate Report released

 

[Kukri]

MV Estonia Preliminary Assessment: Intermediate Report released

Thank you.

 

[Stemar]

"Primarily, the poor condition of the wreck is highlighted. Also, the location of the deformation as shown in the 2020 videos matches the location of outcropping bedrock. Two conclusions are made, based on evidence gathered so far, which state that there is no indication of a collision with a vessel or a floating object nor is there any indication of an explosion in the bow area."

So it would appear that they got it right the first time.

Version for conspiracy theorists: They knew all along the ship had been sabotaged, and they're still covering it up. They even moved the sea bed to account for the hole from the torpedo.