Final Report Confirms No Need to Reopen Investigation into 1994 Estonia Ferry Disaster

The Estonian Accident Investigation Commission (OJK), the Swedish Transport Agency (SHK), and the Finnish Accident Investigation Board (OTKES) have jointly released a final report concluding that there is no justification to reopen the investigation into the 1994 Estonia ferry shipwreck. This follow-up assessment was prompted by a 2020 documentary revealing previously unknown holes in the ferry's hull, sparking renewed public interest and speculation.

According to the report, the damage to the wreck observed in the documentary was caused by contact with the seabed rather than other factors. The investigation further determined that while the Estonia was not seaworthy due to latent structural weaknesses and uninspected conditions throughout its operational lifetime, these defects were unknown to both the crew and regulatory authorities at the time. Jonas Bäckstrand, head of SHK, emphasized that these systemic shortcomings were consistent with the vessel’s certification records.

Märt Ots, director of the Estonian commission, underscored that the report provides comprehensive and current documentation of the wreck’s condition, the sequence of events, and the broader systemic issues leading to the disaster. The final report states clearly there is no new evidence to revise or reopen the original 1997 investigation, effectively closing the subject despite ongoing conspiracy theories and public debate.