meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Witness History

The Estonia ferry disaster

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 27 September 2024

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1994, the MS Estonia ferry sank in the Baltic Sea with the loss of 852 lives. It was one of the deadliest shipping tragedies since the sinking of the Titanic.

The Estline ferry was sailing overnight from Estonia to Sweden, in bad weather and heavy seas, when it sent a distress signal saying it was listing heavily.

Survivors later reported the boat sank within five minutes, and many passengers did not have time to escape. An official inquiry found that the ship's bow door locks had failed allowing water to gush in.

Urban Lambertson was one of the 137 survivors. He’s been speaking to Jane Wilkinson

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Memorial to the victims of the Estonia ferry disaster. Credit: Jessica Gow/AFP via Getty Images)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Before you listen to this BBC podcast I'd like to tell you why I love

0:03.7

podcasting I'm Natasha Aronson I'm an assistant commissioner for the BBC and I work on

0:09.4

making podcasts my real passion is discovering unbelievable unheard stories and working with the biggest

0:16.9

stars who can really bring those stories to life.

0:20.0

I love the whole process of making podcasts from the spark of an idea to hearing the final edit.

0:26.0

There's nothing like it.

0:28.0

What makes BBC podcast special is that we're working for you.

0:31.0

So whatever we commission has to reflect the things that you care about

0:34.4

and love wherever you are in the UK. So if you like this BBC podcast, there's so much more to

0:39.5

discover. Have a listen on BBC sounds.

0:51.0

Hello, welcome to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service with me Jane Wilkinson. I'm taking you back to 1994 and the

0:56.7

sinking of the Estonia ferry 30 years ago, one of the deadliest shipping

1:01.4

tragedies since the Titanic.

1:03.4

More than 800 people drown when a ferry turns over and sinks in a Baltic storm.

1:08.6

It happened in the dark and it happened quickly.

1:11.2

Most were below, sleeping and never had a chance.

1:15.0

As stunned relatives mourn one of Europe's worst human disasters.

1:20.0

There was a person standing there screaming out, this is the end of the world and the end of things.

1:27.0

It was just cowdy.

1:29.0

That's Urban Lambachon, one of the 137 survivors. On September 28th, 1994, he was a booking

1:38.3

manager for Esline, the company that ran the ferry service between Estonia and Sweden.

1:44.3

Estonia was about 16,000 tons, could carry 52 heavy lorries, or up to

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.