CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY OF TESTIMONIES BY SURVIVORS

Two able-bodied seamen have testified about the lashing of cars, lorries and trailers prior to the journey. Both were involved in this work. Trailers and large vehicles were secured with four lashings and trailer chocks. Passenger cars were not lashed but parked with handbrakes on and in gear.
While loading, the two seamen were ordered to do the lashings with care because winds up to 25 m/s were expected. Both were certain that vehicles were secured in accordance with their instructions and with the equipment to hand.
Both stated that the bow visor was properly closed before sailing.

6.3.2 Reports from deck 1

On deck 1 there was one cabin department with 124 cabins and beds for 358 passengers. The cabin area extended forward from amidships. In the centre line of the cabin department there was a central corridor with six upward-going staircases. Several transverse corridors on both sides joined at this central corridor. The six staircases joined in the casing, ending up as three on deck 4. The middle one of these joined the main staircase, the foward one continued to deck 7 (Figure 6.3).
From this deck there were 22 survivors. Three of them were crew members from the engine room and 19 were passengers from the cabin area. Figure 6.2 shows the engine area and the cabin department with all known locations of survivors.

Figure 6.2 Plan showing deck 1. Red dots mark all known locations of survivors at the onset of the accident.

Many passengers were unable to sleep prior to the accident due to the ship's heavy motion and the noise and vibrations from waves hitting the bow. Several passengers were seasick. Some had been sleeping and woke shortly before the accident due to the motion and the noise.
One witness, in a starboard forward cabin, heard some hard thumping and something banging. She thought it was strange and spoke to her friends about it. She had a horrid feeling and left her cabin. Her friends said they would follow. She went up to deck 7 and sat in a chair for a few minutes when she suddenly heard a heavy blow and the ship started to heel over.
In another cabin, further aft on the starboard side, were two persons. They reported heavy ship motion. Every time the ship pitched, one of them reported, he heard blows against the hull, as if someone were hitting it with a large stone. This witness was worried and discussed the sounds with the other, feeling that something was amiss. He got out of bed and started to dress. The other witness, in the same cabin, did not hear these blows but was also worried. After a while she heard a faint, new bubbling sound from above, like water being poured slowly. She stated that this happened a little after one o'clock: a wristwatch had beeped the hour and she had also looked at her own watch. She stayed in bed half asleep for about five minutes when there suddenly was a loud, scraping, howling, creaking and screeching sound from overhead, quite close, as if something large and heavy was sliding. A witness from a nearby cabin has also reported the same kind of noise. After this the ship heeled. They were convinced that something was amiss.
Several witnesses have reported being awakened by loud noise or bangs. Three passengers fell out of their beds because of the ship's motion. Shortly afterwards, they heard a tremendous thud, so ”hard” that one of them, who was now standing, was thrown against the bulkhead. It was like a collision. The ship immediately started to roll ”incredibly”. Another witness has stated that, around 0100 hrs, he heard a familiar hydraulic sound, the kind ”that is made when the bow visor opens and closes”. He lit a cigarette and shortly afterwards, still smoking, he heard a clear metallic blow or crash. After another one or two minutes he heard the same sound again. He dressed and left his cabin. When just outside his cabin door, he estimated the time to 0115 - 0120 hrs, the ship raised its bow and heeled to starboard immediately after.
Another witness opened his cabin door. The corridor outside was empty, but there was a thin trickle of water on the floor. At this time the ship had only a very slight list. He ran out in his underwear. The ship remained starboard heeled. In the central corridor there was water on the floor.
At about the same time most cabin doors were opened and half-dressed passengers emerged into the corridors. Many were in panic, shouting and screaming. In the central corridor they ran back and forth searching for staircases and colliding with each other. On one staircase, a woman stood in her night-dress, screaming hysterically. In a cabin doorway an elderly woman was hanging on, trying to pull herself out.
One witness, in a forward central cabin, left after hearing an alarm in Estonian. At this time he saw water coming into his cabin.
When passing deck 2 up the staircase, several witnesses reported cold water running down the bulkhead and onto the floor. One witness saw water spraying from chinks in the closed doors leading to the car deck. He estimated one decimetre of water on the floor.
It was increasingly hard to move because of the list. Some paralysed and exhausted passengers were standing on the staircase. They were passed by others.

6.3.3 Reports from deck 4

On deck 4 there were two cabin departments, one forward and one amidships, containing 98 and 81 cabins respectively. In the midship department there were beds for 200 passengers and in the forward for 204 passengers. The cabin departments were separated by the entrance hall with the main staircases. Aft there was a conference area which, at the time of the accident, was closed. Close to the conference area was the Night Club, which was open.
In the forward cabin department there were three parallel longitudinal corridors, one central, and one on each side. Between the corridors there were cabins. From the central corridor one staircase led to deck 7. The three corridors ended forward at a transverse corridor and amidships at the entrance hall. The central corridor ran between the two main staircases. At the forward ends of the port and starboard corridors two staircases led to the boat deck, deck 7.
In the midship cabin department there were also three parallel longitudinal corridors, with one transverse corridor connecting the central corridor with the starboard corridor and another connecting the central with the port. The longitudinal corridors ended forward at the entrance hall and aft at the aft staircase and the conference department.
From deck 4, 32 people survived. Most remembered their cabin numbers. Probably seventeen escaped from the forward cabin area and six from the midship cabin area, two from the Night Club, one from the lavatory close to the conference area and two from the cinema in the conference area. Four survivors from this deck cannot remember their cabin numbers. Figure 6.3 shows the plan of deck 4 and the locations of survivors.

Figure 6.3. Plan showing deck 4. Red dots mark all known locations of survivors at the onset of the accident.
Click image for close-up

Reports from the forward cabin department

In the forward cabin department a few witnesses have reported that they were seasick. One was woken, he says, at about 0000 hrs by a noise which made him worried. It was a dull sound, but powerful and as if something was sliding from one side to another, hitting hard against the ship's hull. The noise reverberated through the entire ship. Because of this noise the witness decided to leave his cabin. Another witness has said that he heard strange blows while undressing in his cabin, a sound like metal against metal vibrating through the entire ship. It seemed to him that the blows were coming from the bow.
One witness, in a starboard cabin, was lying awake in his bed wondering about the blows from the waves and the ship's speed which he thought too high for this kind of weather. The ship was pitching. He noted that the sound from the engines suddenly changed, as if the ship was slowing. After a while he heard an enormous crash and the entire ship shook. He looked out through the window and was not sure whether the ship was moving or not. After the blow there was the familiar roar of the waves hitting the bow again. Suddenly there were two metallic, clanging sounds each coming a moment after a wave hit the bow. When the next wave struck he heard the same sound again three times and after that a rustling sound beneath his cabin from the car deck. He remained in his bed for another moment. Then he told his roommate that something was wrong and that they had to get out of their cabin. At this time the ship had a slight list.
Another witness, also lying seasick in bed, was listening to the sounds. He fell asleep now and then but woke up because of blows. Suddenly he was woken by a blow and because the ship rolled heavily three to five times. After a further, powerful, blow he heard two or three loud scraping sounds a few seconds apart. The ship heeled over and things fell from the table to the floor. Immediately after another heel all loose objects slid towards the cabin door. After the last heel, the vessel remained listed to starboard and he left his cabin rapidly. He took with him his alarm clock which had stopped at 0102 hrs.
One witness felt that the ship was behaving strangely as if ploughing heavily right through the waves. At the same time he heard loud metallic thumps and noted that the engines stopped. The time was around 0105 hrs to 0110 hrs. Another witness was awakened by a huge bang, sounding as if the ship collided. He fell from his bed to the floor. A further witness was woken by an enormous crash. All loose objects slid to the floor and two men, who were sleeping in the upper beds, fell to the floor.
One witness could not sleep because of vibrations and the sounds of the ship hitting the waves. At around 0100 hrs he heard two bangs one shortly after the other. He got up, dressed and opened his cabin door. There was no one in the corridor but some cabin doors were open and he saw people inside. He went aft while the ship started to heel moderately.
Later the list increased. Many cabin doors were open by this time. In the corridor there were many people, some of them naked, others wearing only underwear. There was panic and people were running both aft and forward screaming. Some of them were standing still, apparently in shock. According to one witness, at approximately 0115 hrs there was an alarm call, ”Häire, häire, laeval on häire!”, meaning ”Alarm, alarm there is alarm on the ship!” in Estonian. (The Estonian language has similarities with the Finnish but is not understood by Swedes.) It was a woman's voice and she sounded afraid or injured. The voice was very weak. Some of the passengers in this cabin department ran aft to the entrance area and some forward to the forward starboard and port staircases.
The corridors were full of people fighting to reach the port staircase. A witness threw himself forward and got his hands on the handrail. For older people, it was impossible to move upwards.
On the starboard forward staircase much sea water came from above, and the people climbing became soaking wet.

Reports from the midship cabin department

One of the witnesses, a dancer on her first working day, was trying to find her cabin after the show which finished at 0030 hrs. She got lost and came outside the car deck where she heard a crash. She finally found her cabin, got to sleep but was awakened by another crash. Other witnesses were wakened by belongings and loose objects sliding about in their cabins.
One witness could not sleep because of the heavy sea. He heard a rolling sound from the car deck below and got a feeling that something was wrong. Belongings started to fall to the floor. Directly afterwards, there was a loud metallic bang and the vessel heeled over.
Another witness went forward along the starboard corridor followed by his parents and his girlfriend. When he came to the entrance area there were many people there. He estimated the list at this time to be about 10 - 15 degrees. The lights were still on.
One witness, from a cabin very close to the entrance hall, was going aft but fell into a cabin where there were already two people. She pulled herself out into the corridor again, leaving the two behind. Most cabin doors were open but only a few persons were in the corridor. The witness walked along the bulkhead and jumped over cabin doorways.

Reports from the Night Club

In the Night Club there were six people, three passengers and three crew members. At about 0115 hrs one witness noticed that objects started to move to starboard. He rushed out and up the aft staircase. He reported no crowding.
In the lavatory outside the Night Club and close to the aft staircase there was another passenger. While leaving, in the hall, he saw a crack in the ceiling and water pouring down. He went up the staircase quite early, before there were any crowds, to the open deck 7.

Reports from the entrance foyer

The foyer was a rather large open space. The list rendered movement there very difficult. The staircases were situated on the ship's centre line and became difficult to reach.
One witness from deck 1 was ahead of the others and did not see other people until he reached the entrance foyer on deck 4. On deck 5 he passed a man lying on the floor, injured or maybe drunk this witness thought, because the ship's list was not too heavy at this moment. He also met two male crew members and told them that he had seen water below. They rushed downstairs.
Another witness arrived on deck 4 somewhat later and saw many people in panic. He held on to the handrail and managed to cross the open area near the bureau d'échange where the floor was soaking wet. Two girls fell from the staircase and struck the bulkhead. One of them probably died immediately. Another witness saw two young women wearing only panties just standing still, holding on firmly to the handrail. This witness lost his grip and slid approximately 10 metres into a glazed wall which broke. He was not injured, and managed to regain the staircase. On deck 5 he saw a person lose his grip and fall into the wall, which cracked. Several people slid screaming across the foyer carpet into the wall, most of them receiving injuries.
People entered the entrance area in great numbers from both forward and aft corridors. Some were standing along the walls and on the stairs. One witness has reported that a crew member was there, trying to help passengers many of whom were just standing still with no chance of climbing upwards. Some found free handrails and started to climb by pulling and dragging themselves upwards. Gradually more and more people came. Many were lying down badly injured and bleeding, some probably dead. They had slid into the walls or fallen from the staircases. There was full panic and chaos. Some people were trying to stand up, some just holding on. The witness who was leading his parents and girlfriend had difficulties reaching the staircases. Once there, he turned to look for the other three who were still on the other side. They could not cross the foyer because of the bodies and the crowd. They shouted and urged him to continue to climb the staircase alone.

6.3.4 Reports from deck 5

On deck 5 there was a forward cabin department, almost identical with that on deck 4, with 102 cabins and 212 beds. Amidships was the manned information desk and a forward hall with the main staircases. Two arcades, starboard and port, with a tax-free shop and several other shops, connected the forward and aft halls. In the aft hall there were the aft staircases. On the starboard side, aft of the shops, there was a lounge with easy chairs. Further aft on this side was the Pub Admiral where entertainment was going on. At the stern on the starboard side there was the Café Neptunus from where doors led out to the aft open deck where outdoor staircases led to the upper decks.
From deck 5, 31 people survived. Four of those were in the cabin area, five were on different locations in the arcade and hall close to the shops and the information desk. Fifteen were in the Pub Admiral, three in the Café Neptunus and four in the lounges. Figure 6.4 shows the plan of deck 5 and the locations of survivors. Photos in Figures 6.5 and 6.6 show Café Neptunus and the aft staircase on deck 5, respectively.

Figure 6.4 Plan showing deck 5. Red dots mark all known locations of survivors at the onset of the accident. Digits in red dot refer to numbers of survivors from this area.
Click image for close-up

Reports from the cabin department

One witness was moving around in the forward port staircase. He noticed that the matting was soaking wet between decks 5 and 6 and also that some water was pouring down the staircase. The matting became, however, less wet further up. He stood at about 0100 hrs looking out through the windows towards the forecastle deck. He could hardly see it because of the darkness but the bow looked normal. After this he went to his cabin and approximately five minutes later the heel came.
One witness, from a forward port cabin, reported that high waves were beating against the ship and huge cascades of water rising into the air. He could not sleep due to the sound of the waves and the ship's motion. Later there were a couple of heavy bangs and he decided to get up and have a look outside. The heel came just when he was at his cabin door.
Another witness stood on the outside deck a while before going to bed, looking at the enormous cascades of water and fascinated by the sight. After a couple of hours' rest in his cabin he became seasick and stayed in bed, but listened carefully to the sounds. He had a feeling that the ship was lifting 10 to 20 metres and banging down into the water again, accompanied by heavy sounds and vibrations. Suddenly he heard an additional slight metallic sound above the normal noise of the waves and the fittings. He heard this sound for a couple of minutes, then he heard a metallic blow. After perhaps another minute, there was a faint metallic blow and after a further 40 - 50 seconds a very heavy metallic bang. He became worried because the noise sounded as if the hull plating was being pressed in. He realised that something was amiss. He left his bed. Soon afterwards the ship developed a starboard list. Approximately one minute after the first list and two minutes after the last bang, the engines stopped. The list was now around 20 degrees to starboard. He left his cabin in a hurry only half-dressed. He put the time from the first metallic sounds to the heel at between 5 and 10 minutes.
A witness in a cabin near the main stairway was woken by objects falling to the cabin floor due to the list. He estimated the time as 0120 hrs. He was uncertain of the timing even though he usually looked at his watch when waking abroad.
Some witnesses from various locations have stated that the engines stopped, or that the sound and vibrations from the engines changed, after the first heel. Others, also from various locations, have said that the engines were running as before.
One witness managed to leave his cabin after the heel, by moving all loose objects into the lavatory, thereby getting the cabin door free so that he was able to open it. He stated that the sounds from the engine were normal.
In another forward cabin a man and his wife were awakened by a sound as of large sheets of metal beating together. Soon after this, the ship developed a list. The couple, in their night clothes, rushed out into the corridor. They noticed others leaving their cabins, some running back and forth and others falling and crawling. The list increased by jerks and somewhere along their way out, the wife lost sight of her husband.

Reports from the lounges

In the lounges 10 to 15 people were sleeping and resting. All were awakened by a scraping sound and by the ship's list. Some seemed to be apathetic and bewildered but others shouted to the rest that they must get out quickly. Only a few responded.
Four passengers ran out directly to the starboard arcade and saw many people in the area around the shops and the information desk. Near the information desk and the main staircases there were two female crew members who did not seem to know what was happening or what to do. People were trying to reach the forward main staircases to go up, but the list made it difficult to move in the arcade as did the crowd further forward. There was much screaming among those fleeing. In the crowd in the open forward hall many passengers failed to reach any of the four staircases going up. Several passengers were lying down and others falling or sliding along the floor and hitting the bulkhead. Several appeared to be injured.

Reports from the Café Neptunus

There were six or seven people in the Café Neptunus (Figure 6.5). Most were resting or sleeping. One witness was sitting, resting his head against the bulkhead and he felt and heard a heavy metal blow to the hull, apparently from the bow. Soon afterwards, the ship heeled over. Another witness said that 5 to 7 minutes later, furniture and cutlery racks, glasses and china fell to the floor and slid with a loud noise to starboard, waking those present. Two passengers slid into the bulkhead. Some passengers were sitting perfectly still, seemingly petrified and horrified.
The alarm Mr Skylight to number one and two was heard from the public address system just after the heel and while one of the witnesses was moving towards the aft doors out to the open aft deck.
A few witnesses lay down on the floor and started to drag themselves up to the doors using the tables which were fixed to the floor. One witness, who was together with his mother, took off his shoes and socks and dragged himself from one table to another, helping his mother by pulling her across the floor table by table. They had to move upwards towards the centre line of the ship and then another 10 metres aft to reach a door. He pulled his mother four or five tables. She had to rest for a while. When the list had increased and he was standing on the pillar of a fixed table trying to pull her further aft, she was exhausted. Clinging to a pillar, two tables from the port doors, she begged him to leave her and continue by himself. She told him that she didn't have any more strength. He shouted at her in vain to continue. At this time, water was coming in from the outside to where they had been sitting earlier, and pictures on the wall appeared to be hanging at a 45-degree angle. This witness managed to drag himself out to the open aft deck and by use of both stairs and rails, he hauled himself further up and eventually to the port side of the hull.

Reports from the open areas

In the open space aft and in the arcades near the information desk and shops quite a few passengers were moving around or sitting in chairs. One witness said that the ship was moving heavily in the storm, making balance difficult. Intuitively he felt a slight list. Suddenly the ship shook and a few moments later heeled over. This heel was very sudden and increased. Passengers and loose objects started to move and tumble around. The witness reported how passengers were thrown violently against the starboard bulkhead and injured. He fell too, but without hurting himself much. The heel caused immediate panic among the crowd and people were running in all directions.
Another witness said that the ship heeled over and remained with a list of about 15 degrees. Ten seconds later a new heel came, which was immediately followed by another. After the three heels the ship had a list of about 45 degrees.
People escaping from deck 1 were coming up the main staircase to deck 5 and the foyer at the information desk. A few witnesses had heard a ringing sound from below on their way up. They had passed several others who were too exhausted to continue climbing. In the main foyer a female crew member slid violently across the floor, screaming loudly. When she hit the wall she became silent. Shortly afterwards, another woman slid the same way. One witness did not dare to look any more but gripped the handrails and pulled himself upwards. It was increasingly difficult to climb the staircase and people had to cling to the handrails. More people were coming all the time and many crowded near the main staircase next to the information area, making it difficult to pass and also hard to hold on to the handrails.
When passing deck 5, witnesses saw a row of gambling machines falling down on people, but no one was able to do anything to help because if they released their grip they would be lost as well.

Reports from the Pub Admiral

Witnesses put the numbers of people in the Pub Admiral at between 30 and 60. Some were sitting at the bar, some in sofas and others at tables. An entertainer on a small stage was leading a karaoke competition and conducting sing-alongs. Witnesses reported that during the show, the ESTONIA's motion increased and that some glasses hanging over the bar counter fell to the floor, as well as some from the tables. The staff started to clear away glasses and bottles from the bar. It was hard for those who were standing and walking to keep their balance.
The entertainer was scheduled to end his show at 0100 hrs but said approximately five minutes before the hour that he would continue for another fifteen or twenty minutes because they were having such fun. Soon after his announcement there was a heavy noise; one witness estimated the time to be around 0115 hrs. It felt as if the ship had hit a big wave. Another witness said that he heard a heavy metallic blow above the noise and the music in the pub, the sound seeming to come from forward.
The metallic blow was not like that of a sledgehammer, but gave a huge, distinct metallic noise, like a shot, reverberating through the hull. It was followed by a slight list.
A few people in the pub commented on the sound, with remarks such as ”now we've hit an iceberg”, but most passengers paid no attention. Because of the bang, one witness wanted to leave the bar, but others in his company told him to stay and wait.
Half a minute or a minute after the first blow, there was another, similar blow and the ship started rolling instead of pitching as before. After a short time she moved in different directions and then heeled to starboard. Some witnesses reported that the ship rolled over to starboard three to four times, then back again but not entirely, i.e. rolled further to starboard every time. After the fourth heel she remained in a distinct list.
One witness stated that after the uncontrolled movements in all directions, the ESTONIA started to roll more and more in all directions and finally only sideways, followed by a moderate heel. Some glasses fell to the floor and a karaoke monitor on wheels started moving. Ten seconds after the first heel there was another one and this time all loose objects started moving. The ship stabilised in a 30-degree list, as stated by several witnesses, and was still rolling somewhat. According to one witness, she kept this angle for about 5 to 6 minutes.
The bar counter ran along the bulkhead to port near the pub entrance facing starboard. When the ESTONIA heeled over the second or third time, all glasses and bottles fell on top of the female bartender, and the refrigerators behind the bar counter came loose. The bartender, who tried to brace herself against the bar, screamed loudly and was knocked down and injured by the falling objects. The guests sitting at the bar had to hold on and some stools slid away from them. There was immediate panic in the pub: several guests screamed while others seemed to be paralysed, staring and horrified.
At the third or fourth heel, almost everyone fell to the floor and slid violently, together with loose objects, into the starboard bulkhead where a large pile of passengers and objects was building up. Most passengers were trying to reach the exit and when some of them were on their way up, the bar counter came loose. A few jumped up on sofas, thereby managing to avoid being hit. People struggled for the door and several female passengers hung onto each other's legs to form a human chain. A few took a running start upwards and some managed to get a grip on the door-post.
Outside the pub, more passengers formed a human chain to help and pull each other up to the handrail of the staircase in the aft hall.
Many, both inside and outside the pub, appeared paralysed, just holding on to whatever they could. Escaping passengers had to pull loose the hands of those who were paralysed with fear and shout directly in their ears not to block the way but to run up to deck 7 and save themselves.

6.3.5 Reports from deck 6

On deck 6 there was a forward cabin department with 103 cabins and 212 beds, almost identical with the other forward cabin departments. Amidships there was a hall with the main staircase. Further aft was the Baltic Bar with the casino on the port side and a stage amidships. On the starboard side amidships was also the Restaurant Seaside which was closed at the time of the accident. Further aft was the aft hall with staircases and, at the stern, the Restaurant Poseidon, also closed. At the stern there was a small afterdeck with two outside staircases starboard and port connecting the afterdecks on decks 4 to 7.
During the evening the band, which was playing in the Baltic Bar, finished their show early at 0030 hrs due to the heavy sea. They were scheduled to play until 0200 hrs. A dance team had difficulties performing their show and dancers had fallen several times, as had music stands and other equipment.
From deck 6, sixteen people survived. At the time of the accident eleven survivors were in their cabins, one in the Baltic Bar, three in the casino and one out on the aft deck. Figure 6.7 shows the plan of deck 6 and the locations of the survivors.

Figure 6.7 Plan showing deck 6. Red dots mark all known locations of survivors at the onset of the accident.
Click image for close-up

Reports from the cabin department

In the cabin department most witnesses had gone to bed. One witness who went to her cabin just before 0100 hrs reported that 7 to 8 minutes later the ship heeled over. Another was awakened by the heavy movement. One sleeping witness was thrown out of bed due to the list.
One witness, in an aft starboard cabin, was awakened by the regular blows from the waves but noticed a vague trembling which deviated from the usual. A trembling and markedly thudding noise was repeated four times at short intervals, then a longer interval and then repeated again. The witness got out of bed and shortly afterwards the ship heeled over. Other witnesses in more forward cabins reported sounds resembling huge crashes and bangs just prior to the heeling.
The passengers ran out of their cabins and into the corridors. One witness had to drag furniture and luggage into the lavatory to be able to open the blocked cabin door. Running along the corridor, this witness heard an alarm siren. People were screaming in cabins and corridors. Out in the open hall near the main staircases there were numerous flying objects and broken glass. This witness saw people lying on the starboard side of the stairway, some seemingly apathetic and others with injuries that may have included broken legs.
A few passengers who were heading for the port side forward staircase were seen sliding in the corridor across the ship, severely injuring themselves when they violently hit the starboard bulkhead.

Reports from the Baltic Bar

One witness from the Baltic Bar said that after 0030 hrs the ship's motion increased. Some time after 0100 hrs the ship raised her bow violently and dived deeply. After the second or third dive she behaved differently. The expected rising of the bow did not occur and the ship's movements felt more rigid. A few minutes later, she heeled over to starboard and glasses and other objects fell from the tables. This witness left his place for the staircases and while moving upwards he heard glasses crashing from the bar and several passengers screaming. On his way, this Swedish witness also heard some message, in a foreign language, over the public address system.

Reports from the casino

In the casino there were about four passengers and a croupier playing cards. One witness heard three or four heavy metallic blows one after the other. The sounds appeared to come from beneath. Moments later the ship heeled. Playing cards and gambling chips flew across the table. Seconds later, the ship trembled once more, the list increased, and the gambling table fell over and slid against a bulkhead. The players and the croupier moved out together, heading for deck 7.
The three witnesses from the casino reported that approximately five minutes after the heel they heard alarm signals: first the word ”Häire” two or three times and immediately after that a man's voice announcing ”Mr Skylight number one and number two”.
In the main staircase there were many people and it was quite difficult to force one's way upwards. Many were moving upwards and some were also heading down. One witness from deck 1, passing deck 6 saw two crew members lying on each side of a corridor shouting in their walkie-talkies. As he passed them he said ”lifeboats?” to them but got no answer.

Reports from the outer deck

One passenger was alone on the starboard side of the aft outer deck. To starboard he could see the lights from two other distant ships, one abaft and one abeam of the ESTONIA. He looked at his watch at 0105 hrs. According to his estimation, twenty minutes after, the ship suddenly listed without any forewarning. He saw through the windows into the restaurant that chairs and tables were shifting and down the staircase from deck 7 a barrel and a folding chair came tumbling. It was impossible to walk straight to the other side. With the help of the railing he dragged himself round the aft deck and up to the port side. There he put his head out and looked forward alongside the ship. The ship was now slowing down and turning to port, and he could see a part of the stabiliser fin over the water surface.
When the ship jerked over again he sat down on the deck and slid from the port side railing to the nearest stairs and climbed up to deck 7. During the climb he heard two different alarm messages over the public address system but was unable to understand them. Once up, he turned around and could see through the staircase opening on deck 7 that the place where he earlier stood on deck 6 now was level with the water.
From the staircase he had to jump in order to get a grip on the aft shield plate extension of the port bulkhead superstructure. He missed and slid down violently, but managed to get a grip somewhere round the staircase. He pulled himself up again and jumped for a new grip. Eventually he was able to raise himself and climb to the port side of the superstructure on deck 7.

6.3.6 Reports from deck 7

On deck 7 there were three cabin departments for the crew, one forward with 25 cabins, one amidships with 25 cabins and one aft with 29 cabins. The aft department also contained messrooms for officers and crew, and a pantry. Between the forward and the midship cabin departments was the hall with the main staircases and between the midship and aft cabin departments the aft staircase. In the forward cabin department, one door led out to open deck forward of the four aftmost cabins on the starboard side and from the aft staircase a transverse corridor led out to the starboard open deck.
From deck 7, 26 people were rescued, most of them crew members and entertainers but also two passengers. Twenty-two were in cabins, one out on starboard deck, one in the hall near the main staircase. One was in the main staircase between deck 6 and 7 and one in the forward port staircase. Figure 6.8 shows the plan of deck 7 and the locations of survivors.

Figure 6.8 Plan showing deck 7. Red dots mark all known locations of survivors at the onset of the accident.
Click image for close-up

Several crew members said that they had had a storm like this the preceding winter. A cook, who also recollected the previous storm, said that the heavy sea this time was exceptional and that he could not sleep.
One witness, a passenger, went together with his friend up to deck 7 at about 2300 hrs to find a place to sleep. He had slept in this place on several previous trips. They were in the forwardmost port staircase where two windows overlooked the bow area and a door on the port side led out to the open deck. They were lying on the landing in sleeping bags. At about 0000 hrs the witness felt a very heavy blow against the bow and got up to look through one of the forward windows.
The ship behaved as if she was jumping on the waves. The sea was violent. Farthest out on the bow a searchlight was on, shining within a 10-metre radius in the direction of the bow. The ship was pitching heavily and the water was almost up to bow level, sometimes submerging the searchlight. Much water was coming onto the deck and through the forecastle deck rail.
About two minutes after having seen how a large part of the forecastle deck was bouncing up and sinking, this witness looked at his watch which read 0028 hrs. A transverse opening at the head was seen, whence much water was gushing up. The cascades of water seemed to be heavier on the starboard side. At this moment the searchlight went out and the engines stopped. The witness and his friend started to dress and decided to leave. After the cascade from the transverse opening in the forecastle deck, the bow seemed to sink under the water. When they came to the open deck at the forward port side there were about 20 people supporting themselves against the bulkhead. The witness started to prepare a lifeboat for launching.
In a later hearing, this witness stated that he was no longer certain whether his watch was correct on the night of the accident. He had changed batteries the day before the journey and suspected that it might not have been set correctly on the night in question. He is also uncertain whether he actually saw the bow rise and sink or whether he concluded this from the transverse opening and the cascades of water which he had never seen before on any of his six previous journeys. His conclusion was based on the fact that the transverse opening grew larger and that the water cascading in through the opening increased.
Three to five minutes prior to the heel, a motorman, off duty and in his cabin, heard sounds like someone banging the hull with a huge hammer. The sounds seemed to come from the car deck and his first thought was that the cars were loose.
The second engineer was awakened in his cabin and stated that he heard beating, which he at first thought was coming from the lifeboats on deck 7. He also thought that the bow visor had come loose. He calmed down when the beating ceased and did not phone the bridge to report it.
The female witness who had left her friends in the cabin on deck 1 was sitting on a chair on deck 7 and reported that she heard a distinct bang when the ship heeled over and things tumbled. People slid downwards to starboard and could not get up again.
Most witnesses were awakened by the heel or by falling objects in their cabins. One woke up because his alarm clock fell. He gave the time as around 0110 hrs and stated that the list was then about 5 - 10 degrees. Another could not sleep due to the movements and was alarmed when objects fell to the floor.
A few witnesses stated that the ship's engines stopped and one witness said that the vibrations in the hull were ordinary, as if from the main engines running.
One of the entertainers felt that something was amiss and went out on deck on the starboard side. After a couple of minutes the ship suddenly heeled over and a woman came from inside and fell against the rail. She could not get back because of the list. He had to jump, and managed to grip on the loosely hanging door and pull himself and the woman inside.
Some witnesses ran out into the corridor where there were many crew members. There was panic, several people were holding on to the handrails, some were screaming and seemed hysterical. The storekeeper, together with his cabin mate, wanted to leave their cabin but waited for further orders because they realised the situation was abnormal. After waiting in vain for orders or alarm signals, they decided, when the list was 30 degrees, to leave the cabin through the window.
Two witnesses have reported that the ship had a steady 5-degree list for a few minutes and then suddenly developed a list of about 25 to 30 degrees. The time for this second heel, as stated by two crew members, was around 0120 hrs.
The second engineer opened his cabin door and saw the 1st engineer outside. According to the second engineer and a mechanic, the first engineer said: ”Seems as if the bow visor has been thrown open; it would be a good thing if we got her beached”. (The first engineer could overlook the forecastle area from his cabin.) The second engineer returned to his cabin for his torch and a radio. He then had to leave the cabin through the window. Several other crew members in port cabins were also escaping through windows.
In another cabin, two crew members could not escape through the window. Instead they jumped on the door, which now was in the position of the floor. The door broke and they tumbled down into the corridor.
On their way out, several crew members heard ”Häire” twice and soon after Mr Skylight to number one and two over the loudspeakers. The second engineer heard on his walkie-talkie someone from the information desk trying to contact the bridge. He tried to help by using his own radio to call the bridge, but received no reply. Another crew member, a watchman, stated that besides the other alarm signals there was also an order to passengers and crew to get out and an order to release the lifeboats. (It is not clear whether this order was given over the public address system or in some other way.) Another witness, a shop assistant, has stated that sometime during the chain of events a male voice announced that the ship was sinking.

6.3.7 Reports from deck 8

Forward on deck 8 there were cabins for the master, the chief engineer, the owner, the radio officer; and the radio room. As these cabins were situated just below the bridge, a very short corridor connected them to the bridge staircase. Aft there were 18 cabins, 9 on each side, all for officers and crew. In between the rows of cabins there were messrooms.
From deck 8 four crew members survived. Two of them were in cabins, one in the messroom and one was in an undecided port cabin. Figure 6.9 shows the plan of deck 8 and the known locations of survivors.

Figure 6.9 Plan showing deck 8. Red dots mark all known locations of survivors at the onset of the accident.
Click image for close-up

A shop assistant could not sleep because she was afraid and seasick. When the ship heeled over she screamed as loud as she could. Screaming was also heard from other cabins. Another witness, a cabin attendant, was awakened by the beds shaking and by the screaming, another at 0110 - 0115 hrs by a cupboard falling. There were many panic-stricken crew members in the corridor. This witness had to walk along the bulkhead due to the list. One witness went into the messroom where two female shop assistants and a couple of men were looking out of the windows. All seemed to be panic-stricken. This witness returned to her cabin, together with a friend, and dressed. They left the cabin when the ship heeled over again, causing this witness to fall along the corridor and her friend to fall back into the cabin.
Four witnesses eventually managed to climb out on deck and down to deck 7. During the events they heard the alarm message ”Häire, häire, laeval on häire” and Mr Skylight to number one and two. One of them interpreted the last alarm to mean that something had happened on decks one and two. One said that she could not hear any sound from the engines due to all the screaming.

6.3.8 Reports from uncertain locations

Three testimonies are by witnesses who were in their cabins at the time of the accident but the locations of these cabins have not been reported.
They report that there was a terrible thudding in addition to the more natural blows they heard at the beginning. Some time after 0100 hrs the first bump came, a strange bang, as though they were running aground, or a bang as from sheet metal or metal rubbing against metal.

6.3.9 Reports from the staircases

At the beginning, the first passengers did not experience any special difficulties climbing the various staircases. They reported only a slight list and there was no crowding. The list suddenly increased in jerks, however, and more and more people reached the staircases on different decks. Several witnesses reported the list to be about 30 - 35 degrees and only slowly increasing, and that the ship's rolling more or less ceased. People coming from cabin and public areas tried to climb up to deck 7 to reach the lifeboat deck.

The forward staircases

The forward port and starboard staircases were in the forward corners of the superstructure. Both led from deck 4 to deck 7 and on each deck there were doors to the respective cabin areas, as well as out to the open deck on deck 7. Halfway between each deck there were landings.

Reports from the forward port staircase

On the forward port staircase only a few passengers were climbing. Due to the list some were unable to reach this staircase because in each cabin department they had to pass a transverse corridor. One couple lost their balance, slid down a corridor towards the starboard bulkhead and hurt themselves. On this staircase there was no crowding but the list made it increasingly difficult to climb. An elderly couple lay on the landing between decks 6 and 7. Both were bleeding and they were passed by other passengers.

The staircase through the forward cabin departments

The six staircases from deck 1 joined to make three on deck 3. One of these three ran inside the forward cabin departments up to deck 7. This staircase was connected to the central corridors on each deck and was located somewhat to the starboard of the corridor.

Reports from the staircase through the forward cabin departments

Several people from deck 1 came up the staircase through the forward cabin department to deck 4. Some climbed further up to decks 5 and 6, others ran along the corridors forward and some aft towards the foyer. The passengers who were heading aft to the foyer on deck 4 met a person pointing forward in the corridor and saying in Swedish ”Get back, death-trap, run forward”. This person calmly spoke to those who were coming up the staircase. One witness, who together with 10 to 15 others was running forward, looked back and could see through the glazed doors into the foyer, with its yellow glazed tile flooring, how people were sliding on their backs to starboard.

The main staircase

The main staircase, going up from the entrance foyer, consisted of eight flights, four on the starboard side and four on the port, separated on each deck by the central corridors leading into the forward cabin areas.
On the deck levels, the two upward flights on either side of the corridor were adjacent between the downward flights. On the landing levels, this was reversed.
The main staircases began on deck 4, from where one narrow flight led down to the car decks and the cabin department on deck 1. From deck 4 they ascended to deck 7. From there and up to decks 8 and 9 there were separate staircases for crew only.
On deck 4 the staircases led directly into the entrance foyer, while on other decks they were separated by bulkheads from the public areas and halls. On these decks the bulkheads had an open front towards the halls. On deck 7 the staircase was entirely separated from other areas by bulkheads with fire doors, one forward and two aft, leading to the crew's cabin areas. To port and starboard there were glazed double doors with a central pillar, leading out to the open deck.
The railings of the main staircase were made of five parallel aluminium tubes with a thicker tube as a handrail on top. The railings followed the profile of the staircase, being fixed to the floor and to every fourth step by vertical flat steel at approximately one-metre intervals. All eight flights had railings on both sides.

Reports from the main staircase

On deck 4 many people were trying to reach the staircase. Many stood along the walls and part-way up the stairs. People were having growing difficulties climbing because of the increasing list. Some stood still, just holding on while others reached the handrails and tried to pull themselves upwards. Several were half-dressed and many were drunk. One witness saw her husband lose his grip and fall down the staircase where another, quite heavy, female passenger slid down on top of him. Several witnesses escaped by dragging themselves up along the handrails. On most of the landings there were people lying and sitting. Witnesses saw others in need of help but they could scarcely help others because they could hardly help themselves.
One witness said that he felt trapped, with many people behind him and many in front, some of them not moving at all. Another witness on his way up saw many people in a state of panic. Some were only sitting in corners, incapable of doing anything. On deck 4 this witness saw some crew members trying to guide passengers. Another witness said that during his climb he passed many people who were screaming and crying and that several were in panic. The climbing was difficult in parts of the staircases where carpets had come loose and slid away. Many people hung onto handrails, which also broke, causing several to slide down and many to panic.
Most of those trying to make it up to deck 7 were moving upwards, but quite a few were standing still. One witness said that he had to wait between decks 4 and 5 for about five minutes due to the crowd. A woman's voice shouted ”out, out”. While waiting, he heard the ”Häire, häire, laeval on häire” call from the public address system. The ship's list increased in jerks and there were many people and total chaos on deck 6. A vending machine slid down the foyer. Later on, a witness saw an officer wearing a white shirt and shoulder straps with stripes of rank and a triangle. He had a walkie-talkie. On the landing between decks 6 and 7, many people were lying and standing. Those who were climbing could also see many people in various corridors lying all over the place.
Quite a few on the crowded staircase lacked the strength to continue. By the time some reached deck 7, the ship had a list of about 35 - 40 degrees. The lights were still on. On the deck there were plenty of lifejackets and at the open doors a crew member was trying to lead people out. People formed a human chain, helping each other out to the port side of the deck. One witness said that the chain was mostly made up of crew members. Crew members also told passengers outside to move on and not to block the open doors. A few witnesses saw a crew member with a walkie-talkie and a ”scooter uniform” out on deck while other witnesses reported having seen no organised action by the crew.
One witness who came up early to the main hall on deck 7 saw one or two crew members with walkie-talkies. While outside distributing lifejackets, he heard the bell ringing. Another witness who arrived quite early reported that there were four or five people whom he thought were crew members. They were keeping passengers back. This Russian-speaking witness did not understand their language and was therefore not able to tell whether they were giving instructions to the passengers. Another witness reported that on the port side of the main staircase, one crew member had braced himself somehow and was helping people from the staircases to the open port doors by pulling them upwards.
Up in the hall on deck 7 people had to hang on to handrails and drag themselves up to the doors. One witness saw people sliding down the hall on the carpeted deck. She saw one woman hit the door on the other side violently, losing consciousness. This witness managed to hold on to the handrail despite the many people forcing their way forwards. In some places the handrail had come loose, making it difficult to climb up to deck 7. People were coming out through the glass doors one by one and the witness had to wait her turn. It was impossible to get out without holding on to the door or something else.
One passenger from deck 1 who arrived early on deck 7 said that it looked as if the open doors were standing straight up. On coming out he saw 5 - 6 persons on the outside deck. Another witness violently forced his way up and through the doors, pressing someone else out at the same time. To be able to get out, one witness said some had to pull and others had to push from behind. This witness also said that people who reached the deck 7 level seemed to be acting more constructively than others. Another witness saw, on arriving on deck 7, that the opposite side of the ship was already level with the water line.
A male witness threw himself at the door, trying to grasp the central pillar but failed and slid down. Somebody threw lifejackets to him but he managed to force himself up once again to grasp the pillar. This time he managed to hang on and push out five more people. By now there were many people out on deck. Another witness said that he grasped a handrail and reached deck 7. This witness also said that the crew appeared bewildered and did not seem to know what to do.
A few witnesses reported hearing alarm signals such as a bell ringing and public address system messages such as Mr Skylight to number one and two and ”Häire, häire, laeval on häire”. Some were not able to distinguish what messages they heard and others stated that they could not possibly hear alarms due to the screaming. One witness said that he heard rushing water from below the staircase and that there was water in the staircase.

The aft staircase

The aft staircase was situated to port of the ship's centre line. It consisted of three parallel flights with landings between every deck (Figure 6.6). It went from deck 4 up to deck 7 where, to port, glass double doors led to the open deck.

Figure 6.5 Café Neptunus, port side looking aft.

Figure 6.6 Aft staircase and the port side arcade looking foward on deck 5.

The railings of this staircase were similar to those of the main staircase.
This staircase connected the public areas such as the conference department on deck 4, the lounges, the Pub Admiral and the Cafe Neptunus on deck 5, and the Restaurant Poseidon and the casino on deck 6. On deck 4, access from the midship cabin department was through all three longitudinal corridors, which had doors leading to this staircase.

Reports from the aft staircase

On the aft staircase there were also many people, mostly from the Pub Admiral, the lounges, the casino and the Cafe Neptunus, i.e. from decks 5 and 6.
One early witness had no difficulties climbing to deck 7. He looked inside corridors when passing and stated that they were completely empty of people.
People climbed by shuffling their hands up along the handrail. If one hand was released it resulted in a fall. Several people were falling down, hitting the lower landing. Only the strongest were able to struggle further up.
One witness reported seeing a crew member trying to arrange a human chain to help passengers up from lower parts of the ship. People were shouting to each other to run up to deck 7 and get out.

The aft outdoor stairs

Aft of the ship's superstructure there were rather small open-air decks with two staircases, one on each side. They went from deck 4 to deck 8 and could be reached only from the inside public areas through doors on decks 4, 5 and 6 and through the crew areas on decks 7 and 8.

Reports from the aft outdoor stairs

Two survivors, who were able to reach the afterdeck after quite some time, reported heavy wind and waves. While struggling to reach the aft port side door, one of these witnesses reported that the lights went off first momentarily and then for good when he reached the outer deck. Once out on deck he threw himself at some fixed tables. From these tables he managed to get hold of the iron handrails on the port side staircase. He was not able to climb the stairs due to the heavy list but tried to climb along the handrail. Waves lifted him and moved him upwards metre by metre. In this manner he eventually reached deck 6 where he came under water and had to swim for an open area in between the decks. Eventually he reached the surface but without a lifejacket on. At some time during his climb he saw a man passively standing on the inside of the closed half-glazed doors, presumably unable to open them because they were already partly under water.
The other witness from this staircase looked for lifejackets out on deck but could not find any. This witness managed to climb from the port side of the afterdeck on deck 5 straight up onto the hull when the list was about 90 degrees.

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