The MS Estonia was a car-passenger ferry constructed in 1980 by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, West Germany, originally ordered by a Norwegian company but ultimately built for Rederi Ab Sally, a Finnish shipping firm. The vessel was designed as a sister ship to Diana II, but lengthened from approximately 137 meters to 155 meters and extensively redesigned, including a new superstructure. It featured 11 decks, with passenger amenities on decks 1, 4, 5, and 6, including dining areas, bars, and leisure facilities like a sauna and pool, while crew quarters occupied decks 7 and 8, and cargo was stored on decks 2 and 3. Initially named Viking Sally, the ship served on routes between Finland and Sweden, notably between Turku, Mariehamn, and Stockholm, and was at one point the largest vessel on that route. Throughout its service, the ferry experienced several incidents, including grounding and propeller issues, and it was involved in notable events such as a murder on board in 1986 and another in 1987. Ownership and service routes shifted over the years, with the vessel renamed Silja Star and later Wasa King as part of changes within the shipping industry. In January 1993, the ship was sold to Nordström & Thulin for use on the Tallinn–Stockholm route under the name Estonia. The vessel symbolized Estonian independence, being the largest Estonian-owned ship at the time. Its construction included a bow visor with an upwards-opening door and a ramp, a design shared with her sister ships. Tragically, the MS Estonia sank on 28 September 1994 while en route from Tallinn to Stockholm, in one of the most devastating peacetime maritime disasters of the 20th century. The official investigation attributed the sinking to the failure of the bow visor locks, which led to water flooding the car deck and the vessel capsizing. The disaster resulted in 852 fatalities out of 989 onboard. The sinking highlighted critical flaws in the ship’s design, construction, and safety certification, and remains a significant event in maritime history, with memorials established in Tallinn and Stockholm.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.