This is the information page about the shipwreck Estonia, the water chart below shows the wreck in its immediate vicinity. The position of this wreck is 59 22.886 N,21 40.487 E (59.133333333333, 21.716666666667)

The texts accompanying this shipwreck are in English 🇬🇧, as they are prepared by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) based on data from UKHO and the hydrographic services of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, among others. They include the known details of the wreck and the comments of the cartographers who have checked the position and condition of the wreck over time.

Name: ESTONIA

Length 155.1 meter, width: 24.1 meter, draught: 5.5, tonnage 15566 ton

Cause: took water on vehicle deck and later sank after loss of outer bow door in heavy weather. 139 passengers and crew survived, 100 bodies recovered and 810 people are missing. 24.12.99 vessel may have been carrying secret weapons stolen from a russian naval base to be shipped to the usa via sweden. a series of small explosions may have occured in an attempt to cause the vessel to return to tallinn and thus prevent the shipment of the weapons. these explosions cut off the stbd bow door hinges. attempts were made to secure the door using wires, water entered the ship. the stbd stern ramp was open to allow the water to leave the car deck, this happened frequently as the bow door was badly maintained and leaked. the operator fled, leaving the ramp open and the vessel took water. the ship went down stern first, not as would have been expected if the water had entered mainly throught the bow ramp. (ll, 24.12.99).

Year of registration: 1994

Water depth above wreck: 55 meter

Known since: 1994, last detected: 1995

Details measurements/cartography: HH319/490/01 6.10.94 SANK IN 592300N, 214200E. (LL, 29.9.94). INS AS NDW PA. BR STD. HH319/490/01 7.10.94 WK LOCATED BY SONAR. LYING ON PORT SIDE, STERN IN 80MTRS, IN SOFT MUD. BOW DOOR LOCATED NEARBY. (LL, 3-4.10.94). NFA. 16.10.96 SHOWN IN 592250N, 214048E ON ESTONIAN 511. NE 2222. 15.8.02 LITHUANIA RATIFIED IN MID-JAN AN AGREEMENT, ALREADY SIGNED BY ESTONIA, FINLAND AND SWEDEN, THAT ENSURES VESSEL WILL NOT BE LIFTED, AND ANY ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF THE WK TO BE CONSIDERED AS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. (NAUTICAL MAGAZINE, MAY'02) 6.12.05 SHOWN IN 5922.886N, 2140.487E [WGD] ON ESTONIAN 511 [MAR'95 EDN]. NE 2241.
Comment researcher: UK Hydrographic Office

Commentaar onderzoeker: INTACT, ON PORT SIDE, BOW DOOR NEARBY

Position: 59 22.886 N,21 40.487 E

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