Sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz

Sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz
MS Jan Heweliusz in 1982
Date14 January 1993; 31 years ago (1993-01-14)
Time04:10–05:12 (UTC+1)
Duration1 hour and 2 minutes
LocationBaltic Sea
Coordinates54°36′58″N 14°13′16″E / 54.61611°N 14.22111°E / 54.61611; 14.22111[1]
TypeMaritime disaster
Participants64; 9 survivors
Deaths55

MS Jan Heweliusz sank on 14 January 1993, between about 04:10 and 05:12 (UTC+1) as the ship was crossing the Baltic Sea, en route from Świnoujście, Poland, to Ystad, Sweden. Out of 64 passengers and crew, 55 died in the disaster. It is the largest peacetime maritime disaster in Polish history.[2]

Background

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The MS Jan Heweliusz, a roll-on/roll-off ship, was launched in 1977.[3][4] It was owned by Polish Ocean Lines and operated by Euroafrica [pl].[5] It operated between Świnoujście and Ystad, transporting trucks and rail cars.[6] Over 15 years, the ship had nearly 30 serious accidents, including a major fire in 1986.[2][7] After the fire, Polish Ocean Lines ordered repairs to the ship, which resulted in 70 tons of concrete being added to the affected deck, causing stability issues.[8][9]

Four days before the disaster, the ship's stern gate was damaged while docking in Ystad.[8][10] Because of this, Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz [pl] wanted to cancel the ship's departure and take it out of service for repairs. However, the shipowners ordered the crew to provisionally repair the stern gate and have it gradually repaired at a later time during lay-ups.[11] Temporary repairs to the stern gate caused the ship's departure to be delayed by two hours.[12]

Sinking

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The ship set sail at 22:30 (UTC+1) on the evening of 13 January 1993, two hours behind schedule.[9] It was carrying 35 passengers, 29 crew members, 28 trucks, and 10 rail cars.[13] All crew members were Polish.[3] The forecast called for severe weather.[14]

At around 02:40 on 14 January 1993, weather conditions began to deteriorate as a result of Storm Verena, which was sweeping across the Baltic Sea.[15][16] The ship experienced winds measuring 12 on the Beaufort scale;[2] wind speeds reached 160 km/h (86 kn; 99 mph) and waves reached a height of 5 m (16 ft).[17] As the ship struggled with stability, the crew reduced its speed. This caused a loss in steering. Additionally, due to strong port side winds, the crew filled the port side ballast tanks, contrary to operational recommendations, in an attempt to increase stability.[13][14]

At around 04:00, hurricane-force winds struck the side of the ship, causing it to list.[13][18] Captain Ułasiewicz attempted to mitigate this by steering the ship's bow toward the direction of the wind, but to no avail. A sudden gust of wind struck the starboard side of the ship, causing a severe list to port, exacerbated by the port side ballast tanks being full.[19] The fasteners that secured the ship's cargo then broke.[9][10]

At 04:30, Captain Ułasiewicz ordered an evacuation of the ship.[13] Many passengers were only wearing pajamas as they attempted to evacuate. Several were thrown overboard by gusts of wind.[10] At 04:40, the ship sent out a "mayday" call.[18][15] At 05:12, the ship capsized about 24 km (15 mi) off the coast of Cape Arkona on the German island of Rügen.[6][13] Survivors stated that the ship capsized so quickly that it was difficult to launch the lifeboats in time.[3][20]

First I heard [Captain Ułasiewicz] calling on VHF-DSC Channel 16. He said that the ferry had a 30-degree list and was sounding an alarm to abandon ship. Rønne Radio [da] was already on the radio. The shore station called Jan Heweliusz, asking for the vessel's position. The response was that the list to the side was reaching 70 degrees, and then there was silence. At that point, any communication with the ferry was cut off forever.

— Edward Bieniek, Captain of the MS Mikołaj Kopernik [pl][11]

Rescue effort

[edit]
MS Jan Śniadecki was deployed in the rescue effort.

Rescue helicopters were deployed from Parow, near Stralsund, and from Denmark.[21] MS Jan Śniadecki [pl], which would eventually replace Jan Heweliusz on the Świnoujście-Ystad line, was also deployed in the rescue operations.[22] Due to miscommunication about the ferry's location, the helicopters did not arrive until about an hour and a half after the sinking.[8] The water temperature was 2 °C (36 °F), causing the few lifeboat occupants to suffer from hypothermia.[4]

Only nine people survived, all crew members, and were flown to German hospitals to be treated for hypothermia.[4] The deceased, most of whom were truck drivers, included Swedish, Austrian, Hungarian, Norwegian, Czech, and Yugoslav nationals.[18][3] Only 37 bodies were ever recovered.[20][23]

Investigation

[edit]

Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka established a commission to investigate the disaster,[3][4] however, the commission's inquiry was suspended in March 1993 without producing a report.[5][24] After years of investigation, it was ruled that the shipowner who allowed the Jan Heweliusz to operate, Euroafrica, was responsible for the disaster. The Polish Register of Shipping, the Szczecin Maritime Office [pl], and Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz were also found to have been partially liable.[25]

Victims

[edit]

A total of 55 lives were lost in the disaster: 20 crew members and 35 passengers.[15][17] Among the dead were two children.[2][18]

Crew

[edit]

Passengers

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Legacy

[edit]
Memorial in Szczecin's Central Cemetery

A memorial to the victims was erected in Szczecin's Central Cemetery in 2013.[57] There is also a memorial in Plac Rybaka in Świnoujście.[58] Some items recovered from the tragedy are on display at the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk.[18] Due to its shallow maximum depth of 24 m (79 ft), the MS Jan Heweliusz is a popular wreck diving destination.[59]

[edit]

The sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz will be the subject of a 2025 Netflix miniseries, titled Heweliusz.[60] The series was announced as "the largest and most complex Polish television series production in recent years," featuring over 120 named characters and 3,000 extras, and requiring a crew of over 140 members.[61]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bogalecka, Magda; Jakusik, Ewa; Kołowrocki, Krzysztof (2017). "Data collection of last 30 years ship accidents at the Baltic Sea area" (PDF). Journal of Polish Safety and Reliability Association. 8 (4). Polish Safety and Reliability Association: 125–134. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Bielecka, Elżbieta (14 January 2018). "25. rocznica zatonięcia promu "Jan Heweliusz"". Interia (in Polish). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "54 Die as Polish Ferry Capsizes in Baltic Sea". The New York Times. Reuters. 15 January 1993. p. A-7. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Bridge, Adrian (15 January 1993). "54 drowned in Polish ferry disaster". The Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "CASE OF BRUDNICKA AND OTHERS v. POLAND". Strasbourg: European Court of Human Rights. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Tamara (15 January 1993). "54 Dead, 9 Injured After Polish Ferry Capsizes in Baltic Sea". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ Gedye, Robin; Leski, Krzysztof (15 January 1993). "Captain of death ferry defied storm warnings". The Daily Telegraph. No. 42786. p. 13. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Molga, Tomasz (16 October 2020). "Nie zostawiajcie Heweliusza. Nowa rekonstrukcja największej polskiej katastrofy na Bałtyku". WP Magazyn (in Polish). Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Szelest, Konrad (16 January 2021). "Grobowiec nielegalnych imigrantów?". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Kawczyńska, Marta (6 January 2024). "Katastrofa promu "Jan Heweliusz". Co się wydarzyło tej feralnej nocy?". Dziennik Gazeta Prawna (in Polish). Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b Weltrowski, Piotr (13 January 2024). "31 lat temu zatonął prom Jan Heweliusz. Katastrofa, która wciąż wzbudza emocje". Trojmiasto (in Polish). Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  12. ^ Świerczyńska, Katarzyna (14 January 2023). "Jak zatonął Jan Heweliusz? "Męczyli się tak z półtorej godziny, potem wszystko ucichło"". Wprost (in Polish). Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e Krzywiecki, Jakub (14 January 2023). "Zginęli wszyscy pasażerowie. Katastrofa "Jana Heweliusza"". Interia (in Polish). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b Szozda, Zbigniew (2009). "Application of the TRIPOD method for human factor analysis on the example of m/f Jan Heweliusz capsizing" (PDF). Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Stability of Ships and Ocean Vehicles. St. Petersburg: ShipStab. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Stark, Florian (30 November 2020). ""Jan Heweliusz": Das verrufenste Pannenschiff der Ostsee". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 24 September 2024.
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  19. ^ Caban, Jacek; Brumercikova, Eva; Bukova, Bibiana; Brumercik, Frantisek; Vrábel, Ján; Šarkan, Branislav; Ignaciuk, Piotr (1 November 2017). "Conception of the Maritime Transport Safety in the Baltic Sea in 2009 to 2015". LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics. 8 (2). Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice: 12–23. doi:10.1515/logi-2017-0012.
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  23. ^ Ottenbreit, Kai (14 January 2022). "Swinemünde gedenkt der Schiffskatastrophe vor Rügen". Nordkurier (in German). Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  24. ^ Kareem, Abdul (13 January 2018). "January 14, 1993: 54 die as Polish ferry capsizes off Germany". Gulf News. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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  26. ^ Romański, Krzysztof (8 January 2024). "To była największa katastrofa w historii polskiej marynarki handlowej. Netflix kręci serial o zatonięciu promu "Jan Heweliusz"". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Zając, Tomasz (16 January 1993). "Uratowani i ofiary". Dziennik Bałtycki (in Polish). Vol. XLVIII, no. 12 (14654). p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
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  43. ^ a b c d e "Ingen svensk överlevde. 9 personer räddade ur havet. 36 döda funna i katastrofområdet. 18 saknas ännu". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 16 January 1993. Retrieved 21 August 2024. Ingen svensk överlevde katastrofen med färjan "Jan Heweliusz". Sex lastbilsförare och en passagerare, Conny Irskog, fanns med på olycksfärjan.
  44. ^ a b c "Hullámsírban". Heves Megyei Hírlap (in Hungarian). Vol. IV, no. 25. 31 January 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
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  49. ^ "Jan Heweliusz-offer identifierat". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 15 September 1993. Retrieved 21 August 2024. Kvarlevorna efter Kjell Håkansson påträffades den 5 september av besättningen på en dansk fiskekutter.
  50. ^ Amlien, Geir (15 January 1993). "Norsk trailersjåfør med ulykkesferja". Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Vol. 65, no. 12. p. 9. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  51. ^ Barbøl, Hans Kristian (14 January 2023). "30 år siden sjåfører på 29 lastebiler døde i forlis - deriblant én norsk". Anlegg&Transport (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  52. ^ a b "Jeszcze o "Heweliuszu"". Dziennik Bałtycki (in Polish). Vol. XLVIII, no. 14 (14657). 19 January 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  53. ^ "Trots sorgen måste åkern plöjas. Lajla Karlssons man saknas fortfarande efter olyckan med färjan "Jan Heweliusz"". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 7 October 1994. Retrieved 21 August 2024. För Bo Karlsson körde ombord på en båt som gick ut i ett stormvarnat Östersjön med felaktig ballastering, felaktig lastning och läckande....
  54. ^ a b "Suche nach Opfern endgültig eingestellt". Salzburger Nachrichten (in Austrian German). Vol. 49, no. 13. 18 January 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
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  56. ^ "Heweliusz po raz trzeci". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). 6 October 1993. Retrieved 22 August 2024. Dla dzieci podróżujących na promie "Jan Heweliusz" nie było kamizelek ratunkowych - powiedział wczoraj mąż jednej z ofiar katastrofy, Wojciech Zaborski.
  57. ^ Plecan, Radosław (13 January 2013). "30. rocznica katastrofy Jana Heweliusza. Oddano hołd ofiarom [WIDEO, ZDJĘCIA]". TVP3 Szczecin (in Polish). Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  58. ^ Gibas, Grzegorz (14 January 2024). "31 lat temu zatonął prom Jan Heweliusz". Radio Szczecin (in Polish). Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  59. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (14 January 2023). "Jak wygląda wrak "Jana Heweliusza" 30 lat po zatonięciu? Rozmawiamy z nurkiem Jakubem Cieślakiem". Polskie Radio 24 (in Polish). Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  60. ^ Nagler, Anna; Kłuskiewicz, Łukasz (6 December 2022). "Celebrating a Momentous Year in Poland". About Netflix. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  61. ^ Jaźwiński, Ryszard (9 January 2024). "Ruszają zdjęcia do serialu o tragicznej katastrofie promu "Jan Heweliusz"". Polskie Radio (in Polish). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
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