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Wreck and wreck site reports

Wreck and wreck site reports published.

Final Report of the Preliminary assessment of MV ESTONIA

The Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK), the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) and the Safety Investigation Authority, Finland (OTKES) have released a Final Report of the Preliminary Assessment (PA) of MV ESTONIA on December 16, 2025.

MV ESTONIA Preliminary Assessment: Damage on Starboard Side Originates from…

The Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK), the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) and the Safety Investigation Authority, Finland (OTKES) have released a Final Report of the Preliminary Assessment (PA) concluding that there is no need to reopen the 1997 Joint Accident Investigation…

New information about the sinking of MV Estonia

In July 2021, the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau, the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority and the Finnish Safety Investigation Authority performed a preliminary assessment of the new information that became evident in September 2020 about holes in the hull of MV Estonia.

On September 28, 2020, new information based on journalistic material was published. A Discovery Network film about the MV Estonia disaster in 1994 new underwater video images from the wreck site were shown, which revealed damage on the starboard side of the wreck. Estonia, Finland and Sweden have agreed that verification of the new information presented in the documentary will be made in accordance and full respect of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden regarding the MV Estonia signed in 1995.

International investigation

On October 6, 2020 the Estonian government decided to submit a proposal to the governments of Finland and Sweden to further investigate MV Estonia in cooperation between the three nations. At a cabinet meeting on February 4, 2021, the Government made the decision to fund the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau with 3 million euros to carry out underwater explorations related to new circumstances concerning the sinking of MV Estonia. It is vital that the investigation of new circumstances concerning the sinking of MV Estonia must be conducted in a manner that is reliable, transparent, and inclusive of representative organisations of loved ones.

The purpose of the preliminary assessment is to establish whether the new information gives reason to revise the conclusions drawn in the 1997 JAIC-report.

Sinking of ferry Estonia on September 28, 1994

On September 28, 1994, the Estonian-flagged ferry Estonia sank during the regular route from Tallinn to Stockholm. The accident took place in the first hours of September 28, the ship disappeared from the radar screens of vessels in the same area at about 01.50 (Estonian time). The shipwreck location is 40 km from the Finnish Utö island, 50 km from Hiiumaa and 100 km from the Swedish coast.

There were 989 people on board, of whom 137 survived. 852 people died in the accident and the bodies of 95 drowned people were found. Most of the victims were Swedish (501) and Estonian (285) citizens.