Swedish prosecutors have declined a request to reopen the investigation into the sinking of the “Estonia” ferry in 1994, in which 852 lives were lost, stating that there is no new evidence to suggest a collision, explosion, or crime. The ferry sank in international waters in the Baltic Sea during stormy weather on its way to Stockholm from Tallinn, Estonia.
Following a 1997 inquiry, which concluded that the ferry’s bow shield had failed, damaging the bow ramp and flooding the car deck, the Prosecution Authority received a request in 2020 to resume investigations after footage on a television documentary showed holes in the ship’s hull.
According to prosecutor Karolina Wieslander, “Nothing indicates any collision with a ship or floating object, nor any explosion in the bow. Nor has anything else come to light that gives reason to assume a crime has been committed.” She added, “The case is closed.” The statement did not disclose the source of the request to resume investigations.
An Estonian investigation concluded last year that the holes in the ship’s hull shown in the documentary were most likely caused by the impact of the vessel on the sea bottom. This finding appears to align with the Swedish prosecutor’s decision not to reopen the case.
The sinking of the “Estonia” remains one of Europe’s worst peacetime maritime disasters since World War Two, and the decision not to reopen the investigation has disappointed many who hoped for further clarity on the tragic event.
Despite the refusal to reopen the investigation, questions and speculation surrounding the circumstances of the sinking of the “Estonia” are likely to persist, particularly as new evidence or theories emerge in the future. For now, the case appears to be officially closed, with no indication of any foul play or external factors contributing to the disaster.
It is unclear whether this decision will bring closure to the families and loved ones of the victims, who have long sought answers and accountability for the tragic loss of life on that fateful day in 1994.
While the sinking of the “Estonia” may no longer be subject to official investigation, the memory of the lives lost and the impact of the tragedy will continue to resonate across the Baltic Sea and beyond for years to come.
(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
