Sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz explained

Sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz
Time:04:10–05:12 (UTC+1)
Place:Baltic Sea
Coordinates:54.6161°N 14.2211°W[1]
Type:Maritime disaster
Participants:64; 9 survivors
Reported Deaths:55

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.[2] It is the largest peacetime maritime disaster in Polish history.[3]

Background

The MS Jan Heweliusz, a roll-on/roll-off ship, was launched in 1977.[4] [5] It was owned by Polish Ocean Lines and operated by .[6] It operated between Świnoujście and Ystad, transporting trucks and rail cars.[7] [8]

Over 15 years, the ship had 28 serious accidents, including a major fire in 1986. After the fire, Polish Ocean Lines ordered repairs to the ship, which resulted in 60 tons of concrete being added to the affected deck, causing stability issues.[9]

Four days before the disaster, the ship's stern gate was damaged while docking in Ystad.[10] Because of this, Captain 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. Temporary repairs to the stern gate caused the ship's departure to be delayed by two hours.[11]

Sinking

The ship set sail at 22:30 (UTC+1) on the evening of 13 January 1993, two hours behind schedule. It was carrying 35 passengers, 29 crew members, 28 trucks, and 10 rail cars. The weather forecast called for strong winds.[12] [13]

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.[14] [15] The ship experienced winds measuring 12 on the Beaufort scale; wind speeds reached 160kph and waves reached a height of 5m (16feet).[16] As the ship struggled with stability, the crew reduced its speed. This caused a loss in steering.

At around 04:00, a hurricane-force gust struck the side of the ship, causing it to list. 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 list to port.[17] The fasteners that secured the ship's cargo then broke, exacerbating the situation.[18] [19]

Passengers were awakened in the middle of the night to loud noises and severe listing. At 04:30, Captain Ułasiewicz ordered an evacuation of the ship. Many passengers were only wearing pajamas as they attempted to evacuate. Several were thrown overboard by gusts of wind. At 04:40, the ship sent out a "mayday" call.[20] At 05:12, the ship capsized about 24km (15miles) off the coast of Cape Arkona on the island of Rügen.[21] [22] Survivors stated that the ship capsized so quickly that it was difficult to launch the lifeboats in time.[23]

Rescue effort

Rescue helicopters were deployed from Parow, near Stralsund, and from Denmark., which would eventually replace Jan Heweliusz on the Świnoujście-Ystad line, was also deployed in the rescue operations.[24] Due to miscommunications about the ferry's location, the helicopters did not arrive until about an hour and a half after the sinking.[25] The water temperature was 2C, causing the few lifeboat occupants to suffer from hypothermia.[26]

Only nine people survived, all Polish crew members, and were flown to German hospitals to be treated for hypothermia.[27] The deceased, most of whom were truck drivers, included Swedish, Austrian, Hungarian, Norwegian, Czech, and Yugoslav nationals.[28] [29] Only 37 bodies were recovered.[30]

Investigation

Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka established a commission to investigate the disaster, however, the commission's inquiry was suspended in March 1993 without producing a report.[31]

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, and Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz were also found to have been partially liable.[32]

Victims

A total of 55 lives were lost in the disaster: 20 crew members and 35 passengers.[33]

Crew

Passengers

Legacy

A memorial to the victims was erected in Szczecin's Central Cemetery in 2013.[34] There is also a memorial in Plac Rybaka in Świnoujście.[35] Some items recovered from the tragedy are on display at the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk.[36]

In popular culture

The sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz will be the subject of a 2025 Netflix miniseries, titled Heweliusz.[37] 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.[38]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Bogalecka . Magda . Jakusik . Ewa . Kołowrocki . Krzysztof . Data collection of last 30 years ship accidents at the Baltic Sea area . Journal of Polish Safety and Reliability Association . Polish Safety and Reliability Association,Polskie Towarzystwo Bezpieczeństwa i Niezawodności . 2017 . 8 . 4 . 125–134 . pdf . 22 August 2024.
  2. Web site: CASE OF BRUDNICKA AND OTHERS v. POLAND . . 22 August 2024 . Strasbourg . 3 March 2005.
  3. Web site: Weltrowski . Piotr . 31 lat temu zatonął prom Jan Heweliusz. Katastrofa, która wciąż wzbudza emocje . Trojmiasto.pl . 20 August 2024 . pl . 13 January 2024.
  4. News: Bridge . Adrian . 54 drowned in Polish ferry disaster . 19 August 2024 . . 15 January 1993.
  5. Book: Boyce . Jon . Wade . Stewart . Tinsley . David . Ro-ro ships and their market role: a Fairplay report . 1980 . . London . 9780905045115 . 212.
  6. Web site: 27th Anniversary of MS Jan Heweliusz tragedy . Kierowcy HGV UK . 20 August 2024 . 14 January 2020.
  7. Szozda . Zbigniew . Application of the TRIPOD method for human factor analysis on the example of m/f Jan Heweliusz capsizing . Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Stability of Ships and Ocean Vehicles, STAB . 2009 . 20 August 2024 . St. Petersburg, Russia.
  8. Web site: Sowa . Tomasz . Jedna z największych tragedii w historii Polski. Jak zatonął prom "Jan Heweliusz"? . Ciekawostki Historyczne . 19 August 2024 . pl . 14 January 2023.
  9. Web site: Elmerych . Michał . Trzydzieści lat od zatonięcia promu. Pytań o Jana Heweliusza nie ubywa [ROZMOWA] ]. Głos Koszaliński . 20 August 2024 . pl . 13 January 2023.
  10. Web site: Der Untergang der "Jan Heweliusz" . . 20 August 2024 . de . 18 October 2022.
  11. Web site: Na Bałtyku szalał sztorm, prom Jan Heweliusz zatonął. 30 lat temu zginęło 55 osób . . 20 August 2024 . pl . 14 January 2023.
  12. News: Associated Press . Polish city mourns 52 killed in ferry disaster . . . 16 January 1993 . Las Vegas, Nevada . 13a.
  13. News: Chief steward recalls surviving ferry tragedy . . . 17 January 1993 . Las Vegas, Nevada . 14a.
  14. Web site: Wetter: Schwere Unwetter der vergangenen Jahre . . 20 August 2024 . de . 10 June 2014.
  15. Born . Kai . Ludwig . Patrick . Pinto . Joaquim G. . Wind gust estimation for Mid-European winter storms: towards a probabilistic view . . International Meteorological Institute . 1 December 2012 . 64 . 1 . 17471 . 10.3402/tellusa.v64i0.17471 . pdf . 20 August 2024.
  16. Web site: Katastrofa promu Jan Heweliusz. Śmierć w lodowatych falach Bałtyku . Polskie Radio . 20 August 2024 . pl . 14 January 2024.
  17. Caban . Jacek . Brumercikova . Eva . Bukova . Bibiana . Brumercik . Frantisek . Vrábel . Ján . Šarkan . Branislav . Ignaciuk . Piotr . Conception of the Maritime Transport Safety in the Baltic Sea in 2009 to 2015 . LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics . Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice . 1 November 2017 . 8 . 2 . 12–23 . 10.1515/logi-2017-0012 . 20 August 2024 . pdf.
  18. Web site: Kawczyńska . Marta . Katastrofa promu "Jan Heweliusz". Co się wydarzyło tej feralnej nocy? . . 20 August 2024 . pl . 6 January 2024.
  19. Kletz . Trevor . Herald of Free Enterprise . Learning from Accidents . 2001 . 226–233 . 10.1016/B978-075064883-7/50023-3 . 20 August 2024 . Routledge . London . 3 . pdf.
  20. 13 March 2023 . Disaster on the Baltic Sea – The Sinking of the "Jan Heweliusz" . . 22 August 2024 . de . YouTube.
  21. Web site: Pamięć o ofiarach tragedii. W rocznicę zatonięcia promu „Jan Heweliusz” . Kurier Szczeciński . 20 August 2024 . pl . 14 January 2024.
  22. News: Jones . Tamara . 54 Dead, 9 Injured After Polish Ferry Capsizes in Baltic Sea . 20 August 2024 . . 15 January 1993.
  23. DeAngelis . Richard M. . North Atlantic Weather January, February, and March 1993 . . 1993 . 37 . 1 . 70 . 20 August 2024 . . 0025-3367.
  24. Web site: Jarosz . Justyna . Jan Śniadecki sprzedany. Nowy operator i nowa nazwa . GospodarkaMorska.pl . 20 August 2024 . pl . 29 January 2024.
  25. Web site: Wyskoczyli na pokład w piżamach. "Morza już nie było widać" . . 20 August 2024 . pl . 11 January 2024.
  26. Web site: Molga . Tomasz . Nie zostawiajcie Heweliusza. Nowa rekonstrukcja największej polskiej katastrofy na Bałtyku . . 20 August 2024 . pl . 16 October 2020.
  27. Book: Lloyd's Nautical Year Book . 1995 . Lloyd's of London Press . London . 9781850449386.
  28. News: 54 Die as Polish Ferry Capsizes in Baltic Sea . 20 August 2024 . . 15 January 1993 . A-7.
  29. Web site: Olszewska . Agata . 25 lat temu zatonął „Jan Heweliusz”. Rocznicę katastrofy uczci Narodowe Muzeum Morskie . Miasto Gdańsk . 21 August 2024 . pl . 8 January 2018.
  30. Web site: Ottenbreit . Kai . Swinemünde gedenkt der Schiffskatastrophe vor Rügen . . 20 August 2024 . de . 14 January 2022.
  31. Web site: Kareem . Abdul . January 14, 1993: 54 die as Polish ferry capsizes off Germany . . 20 August 2024 . 13 January 2018.
  32. Web site: 25. rocznica katastrofy promu Jan Heweliusz . PromySkat . 20 August 2024 . pl . 15 January 2018.
  33. 23. rocznica zatonięcia promu „Jan Heweliusz” . Biuletyn Morski . 2016 . 10 . 21 August 2024 . Krajowa Sekcja Morska Marynarzy i Rybaków NSZZ 'Solidarność" . Szczecin . pl . pdf . 1426-1006 . 750713058.
  34. Web site: Plecan . Radosław . 30. rocznica katastrofy Jana Heweliusza. Oddano hołd ofiarom [WIDEO, ZDJĘCIA] ]. . 21 August 2024 . pl . 13 January 2013.
  35. Web site: W Świnoujściu uczczono pamięć ofiar "Heweliusza" . Dzieje.pl . 22 August 2024 . pl . 14 July 2016.
  36. Web site: Mirowicz . Piotr . Katastrofa "Heweliusza". Osobiste przedmioty wydobyte z wraku trafiły do muzeum . . 21 August 2024 . pl . 13 January 2023.
  37. Web site: Nagler . Anna . Kłuskiewicz . Łukasz . Celebrating a Momentous Year in Poland . . 22 April 2024 . 6 December 2022.
  38. Web site: Leszczyńska . Ewelina . Gwiazdorska obsada "Heweliusza". Kto zagra w serialowej superprodukcji Netfliksa? . . 22 April 2024 . pl . 12 January 2024.

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