Estonia

ferry

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July 22, 2026

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The sinking of the ferry Estonia on September 28, 1994, was a maritime disaster in the Baltic Sea that resulted in the deaths of 852 people. The ferry departed from Tallinn, Estonia, on a night voyage to Stockholm, Sweden, carrying passengers and vehicles.1

The disaster occurred in stormy weather. Around 1:00 a.m., a loud noise was heard, and shortly after, the ship began to list. Alarms sounded, and the ferry quickly capsized and sank. Of the 138 people rescued alive, one later died. An inquiry determined that the failure of the bow visor's locks allowed water to flood the car deck, leading to the ship's rapid capsizing.1

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sinking of the Estonia
…28, 1994, when the ferry Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. It is among the 20th century’s worst maritime disasters and the second-deadliest sinking of a European civilian vessel after that of the Titanic.
Read More
…28, 1994, when the ferry Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. It is among the 20th century’s worst maritime disasters and the second-deadliest sinking of a European civilian vessel after that of the Titanic.
Read More