21.3.5
Reports from Deck 7

This is the main accommodation deck for the crew with four cabins in front of the superstructure, cabins on each side up to the stern, and officers' and crew's messrooms with pantries in the aft part. The four forward cabins were used as follows (from starboard to port):

1st cabin : economy superintendent Jan Bergendahl (()
2nd cabin : technical superintendent Tomas Rasmusson (not on board)
3rd cabin : chief officer Juhan Herma (()
4th cabin : 1st engineer Arvo Tulvik (().

The windows of these cabins overlooked the foreship and it can reasonably be assumed that the chief officer and the 1st engineer did look out of their windows when hearing the crashing and/or banging noises from the bow area, which alarmed so many persons.
Whilst Jan Bergendahl is not mentioned in any of the statements available to this 'Group of Experts', the voice of chief officer Juhan Herma has been identified with a high degree of probability in the Distress Communication through his shouting of the position to Andres Tammes - see Subchapter 22.1 - thus during the final stage he was on the bridge. According to the statements of 2nd engineer Peeter Tüür and reefer engineer Andres Verro they had met 1st engineer Arvo Tulvik shortly after the big starboard heel in the alleyway in front of their cabin doors.
The statements of those having survived from deck 7 are summarised in respect of the casualty scenario as stated below. The complete statements with translations are attached as enclosures.

2nd engineer Peeter Tüür - 1st cabin port side (statement of 29.09.94 - Enclosure 7.3.2.128 and statement of 03.10.94 - Enclosure 12.5.183):

• woke up by things moving around in his cabin - before that had heard metallic bangs apparently caused by objects hitting against each other - thought the noises came from a badly secured lifeboat or that the visor had become loose;
• felt that the speed was reduced and that there was a starboard heel of about 30°;
• opened the cabin door and met the 1st engineer Arvo Tulvik who said: "Apparently the visor broke up, would be good if the vessel would be beached."

  Note: As stated above, the cabin of 1st engineer Arvo Tulvik is on deck 7, port side, in front of the accommodation. From his window he could overlook the foreship with visor. - See Subchapter 7.2.3.

• next he heard "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2", which according to Peeter Tüür's understanding means: "Fire Alarm." The two fire-fighting teams had to go to their stations - he was number one of team No. 1 and his station was on deck 8 - port side - below the bridge, i.e. directly above him;

  Note: According to Supplement 226 to the JAIC Final Report the 2nd engineer is also number 1 of the fire-fighting team 2. - See Subchapter 7.2.3.

• he went back to his cabin, picked up his walkie-talkie and flashlight, left via the window and saw motorman Hannes Kadak outside on deck 7;
• at that time he was convinced that there was the risk that the vessel might sink;
• heard on his walkie-talkie that the Information desk was trying to reach the bridge but was not getting any answer;
• he tried it himself but also got no answer;
• the lights went out but came back on again (diesel generators shut off and emergency generator started, i.e. the heel was then in the range of 30° - 40°);
• after 4-5 minutes also this generator stopped - vessel on the side and thereafter only emergency lights fed by batteries.

 

Andres Verro - reefer engineer - cabin 710 - 35 years old - statement taken on 29.09.94 attached as Enclosure 21.3.5.353:

• was in his cabin;
• at ca. 01.00 hours was in bed reading a book when the vessel suddenly heeled to starboard and everything rushed to the deep side;
• believes that before the heel he heard some completely strange metallic sounds;
• when he left his cabin he met the 1st and 2nd engineers, one of them said: "Visor went away" (or something like that);
• heard by radio "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2", which means actually "Fire Alarm" spoken by a male voice, when he was already in the stairway in the aft part;
• he got the impression that possibly the locking devices of the bow ramp had failed and through them water came in;
• he walked aft towards the stern.

 

Aarne Koppel - car deck worker - cabin 7011 - statement taken on 29.09.94 in Turku attached as Enclosure 21.3.5.354:

• 5°-10° starboard list, felt it was an abnormal situation and woke up - heard a low breaking sound;
• at 01.00 hours - when we got dressed - the vessel suddenly heeled to ca. 30°;
• when I was still in the cabin putting on warm clothes the light went out/on several times, that was when the main engines stopped;
• it took ca. 5 minutes from the moment I woke up from the 5° list to my leaving the cabin through the window, which was at the high port side.

 

Elmar Siegel - motorman - cabin 7007 - 43 years old. Statement taken on 28.09.94 in Mariehamn - Enclosure 21.3.5.355:

• was in cabin on deck 7 aft;
• 3-5 minutes before heel started heard noise like somebody beating against vessel's hull with a large hammer which came from car deck direction.
• from the liferaft he saw the emergency lifeboat proceeding away from the sinking vessel without caring for anybody in the water (see also statement of Thure Palmgren - Enclosure 21.3.5.356).

Statement taken on 30.09.94 in Tallinn - Enclosure 21.3.5.357:

• It sounded as if the vessel had hit something with the bow.

Interview by Jutta Rabe on 08.03.95 - Enclosure 21.3.5.357.1:

• Aulis Lee went on the way down from deck 7 to his cabin on deck 4, picked up his wife and both returned to deck 7 and survived.

  Note: According to Aulis Lee's own statement he was in the cabin together with his wife when the vessel heeled and they both left together to deck 7. - See Enclosure 21.3.2.305.1.

 

Andres Vihmar - purser - cabin 713 - port side - cabin located 20 m aft from front bulkhead:
Statements taken on 29./30.09.94 - Enclosures 21.3.5.358 / 21.3.5.359:

• the starboard heel occurred at just after 01.00 hours.
• 5-7 minutes after the first listing, the list was already 45°;
• when he came to the boat area on deck 7, port side, Aulis Lee and Aarne Koppel were already there;
• people were streaming up to deck 7 through the open doors for another ca. 5 minutes, thereafter it was no longer possible due to the list and no one escaped anymore from the inside of the vessel.

Note: This means that already after ca. 01.15 hours it was no longer possible to get out of the inside of the accommodation.

 

Ivan Ziljajev - motorman - cabin 7009, port side (his room-mate was Vassili Märtson, who also survived). Statement taken in July 1996 - Enclosure 13.193:

"After I woke up due to the heel I also heard the engines running. It appeared as if the pitch propellers were running in 0 position. I must say that I react rather sensitively in these matters. When I do not hear the engines anymore I wake up immediately, even if the pitch is changed I wake up already. I heard the engines running, I cannot say how many, but I heard the noise of the running engines. I got the impression that the vessel had stopped in spite of the engine noise. I want to make this quite clear, it appeared to me that the vessel was still making headway due to the momentum it still had, but without propulsion. I assumed it was a manoeuvre. They tried to change the condition of the vessel. I also realised that the ship was turning to port and simultaneously I felt a strong wind blow. The waves were so high that water spray came up to deck 7.

 

Jerzy Florysiak - member of band - cabin 770 - starboard side - Enclosure 21.3.5.360:

• should have played until 01.00 hours, but due to heavy movements of the vessel they finished already at 23.40 hours, he went to his cabin on deck 7 at around 00.00 hours;
• vessel rolled to starboard slightly - heeled further - heeled further abruptly;
• everything slid to the deep side, heard two short bell signals (alarm);
• ca. 20° heel when he reached the outside of deck 7.

 

Maiga Järvi - shop girl - cabin 7005 - statement taken on 20.12.95 - Enclosure 21.3.5.361:

• went to bed at 00.50 hours; * ca. 01.05/10 hours sudden heel and she was thrown to the end of her bed;
• left her cabin through the window to outer deck 7, the heel was then ca. 45°;
• met Aarne Koppel

Sirje Juhanson - service girl - cabin 753 - Enclosure 21.3.5.362:

• to bed about 00.00 hours;
• the vessel made a big movement followed by the big heel to 30°;
• left cabin through window;
• met Arvi Rohumaa/Capt. Avo Piht.

 

Orumaa Malle - cook - cabin 7th deck starboard side - Enclosure 21.3.5.363:

• no pre-casualty observations;
• had been warned that heavy weather had to be expected;
• at 00.30 hours to cabin and to bed, was just about to fall asleep;
• mirror fell off the wall and broke to pieces due to the heavy heel.

 

Vassili Märtson - welding motorman - cabin 7008 - (room-mate Tanel Moosaar) - Enclosure 21.3.5.364:

• no pre-casualty observations;
• to bed at 23.00-23.15 hours;
• heel to 30°/35°, engines stopped;
• together with Moosaar out of window to deck 7.

 

Valdur Matt - cabin 7004 - Enclosure 17.2.219:

• secured trailers, distance between trucks 10 cm, behind the bow ramp were two personal cars;
• guarantees that the visor was closed and the locks were closed hydraulically;
• was asleep when the heel occurred, before 01.20 hours, heel more than 45°;
• heard "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2" fire alarm and went forward to fire station 1;
• visor was gone, forward was open, did not see the ramp.

 

Tanel Moosaar - motorman - cabin 7008 - aft port side Enclosure 21.3.5.366:

• 23.00 hours to cabin, hard bangs, vessel's doors were banging, thought vessel had run aground, 01.20 or 01.15 hours;
• heavy heel to starboard which woke him up;
• while getting dressed heard a female voice calling "alarm, alarm";
• before that he had heard "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2".

 

Peeter Palgunov - galley personnel - cabin 7026 - starboard side - Enclosure 21.3.5.367:

• 23.45 to bed, woke up when the mirror on the opposite wall smashed to pieces;
• looked out of cabin door and heard "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2", engines had stopped;
• looked out of window and saw water already at 7th deck level.

 

Victor Psjenitjnyj - sailor - cabin 7201 - Enclosure 21.3.5.368:

• no pre-casualty observations;
• woke up from rumbling noise due to heel.

 

Arvi Rohumaa - cabin 753 - port side - Enclosure 21.3.5.369:

• at 22.30 hours to bed;
• heavy heel to starboard;
• went to fire station underneath bridge after hearing "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2".

 

Ervin Roden - safety officer - cabin 7013 - Enclosure 21.3.5.370:

• to bed at 21.00 hours, had been on car deck before;
• felt one bang and the vessel was shaking, after some time another bang, the vessel rocked;
• heavy heel to starboard, which caused him to slide to the foot end of his bed;
• took 10 minutes to reach the outside of deck 7, 45°.

Note: According to the statement of Paula Liikamaa - See Enclosure 21.3.4.352 - Roden had overheard the walkie-talkie report of Silver Linde to the bridge about water on the car deck.

 

Raivo Sinimi - cabin 754 - Enclosure 21.3.5.371:

• some minutes after 01.00 hours he felt a heavy shock (push/blow) in the vessel, ca. 01.03 hours heel;
• everything fell down;
• heard "alarm" and subsequently "Mr. Skylight to No. 1 and 2".

 

Elmar Siegel - motorman - cabin 7007, port side - Enclosure 13.192:

• 20.00-24.00 hours watch in engine control room (ECR);
• full speed on all 4 main engines all the time plus 2 auxiliary diesels;
• chief engineer Leiger asked to correct the 1°-2° starboard list before departure, which was not possible since the starboard heeling tank was empty and the port one full;
• to bed before 01.00 (ca. 00.30), heard and felt banging and vibrating;
• ca. 30 minutes after he was in bed felt as if vessel had hit/struck something with the bow combined with a hard shock and heel to starboard;
• 20°-30° starboard heel, left cabin through window, 4th deck starboard windows at that time were already in the water;
• heard the engines at the beginning, which stopped one after the other a little later;
• Aulis Lee went back to deck4 (after having been on deck 7) and got his wife up;
• saw the lifeboat No. 1 (man overboard boat) proceeding away from the vessel.

   

  Ulla Marianne Tenman - outside on deck 7 - starboard side - Enclosure 21.3.1.288:

• from her cabin 1098 she went up to deck 7 and waited, suddenly heavy bang and the vessel heeled;
• some time before casualty heard heavy bangs and something beating against the hull.

   

  Valters Kikust - deck passenger in the stairway, port forward of deck 7:

• at 22.00 hours the vessel was pitching and rolling;
• at 23.00 hours he went into the port forward stairway of deck 7 behind the stairs and the windows;
• soon he felt strange knocks against the ship's side while the pitching and rolling continued, he had never felt anything like this before;
• the structure of the ship was cracking all the time;
• he looked down on the bow of the ferry through the window and saw that the search light was on;
• the visor was seen to be in some raised position and water was seen flowing through the gap between visor and forecastle deck;
• the bow was diving into the waves all the time;
• soon the search light went out and the ship heeled heavily to starboard.

 

Summary of observations made / noises heard on deck 7

 

a.) Before the starboard heel:

(1) Various crew members heard metallic noises as if somebody was beating with a large hammer against vessel's hull or as if the vessel's bow was hitting something.

b.) After the starboard heel:

(1) There was a vessel about abeam at starboard side - probably SILJA EUROPA.

c.) After the starboard heel:

(1) Speed was reduced.

(2) Vessel turning to port and the engine room did something to change the condition of the vessel.

(3) Pitch probably 0, although vessel was still making some headway, the engines shut off automatically after the heel was 30° or more.

(4) According to 2nd engineer Tüür, the 1st engineer Arvo Tulvik (() had told him in the alleyway after the big heel that the visor was open, broken open, gone.

(5) The Information desk as well as 2nd engineer Tüür tried to reach the bridge by walkie-talkie - ca. 01.07/01.10 hours - both got no reply.

(6) Already after ca. 01.15 hours it was no longer possible for anybody to get out of the central stairways due to the excessive list.

c) Timing

(1) At ca. 01.00 hours was in bed reading a book when the vessel suddenly heeled to starboard.

(2) At 01.00 hours - when we got dressed - the vessel suddenly heeled to starboard.

(3) The starboard heel occurred just after 01.00 hours, 01.15 or 01.20 hours.

d.) Righting up after the big starboard heel:

(1) There are no reliable reports about the righting up after the big heel, although many experienced it without directly reporting it.

 

In summary of the aforementioned items a.) - d.) the following has to be concluded:

• The time and noise scenarios are basically in agreement with the observations from the other decks, although it has to be borne in mind that only the crew members were accommodated on deck 7 and their statements have to be considered with particular care.
• This refers also to the statement of 2nd engineer Peeter Tüür who has testified in his second statement taken on 29.09.94 by the criminal police Tallinn - Enclosure 7.3.2.128 - that he met the 1st engineer Arvo Tulvik (() in front of his cabin door, who then said: "Apparently the visor broke up, would be good if the vessel would be taken ashore." In his first statement taken by the Finnish police on 28 September 1994, while he was still on board the ISABELLA (the ferry that rescued him), he specifically said that he had not discussed anything with Arvo Tulvik.
• The observations of Elmar Siegel that the man overboard boat (lifeboat No. 1) proceeded away from the vessel without caring for the people in the water and which is confirmed by the surviving passenger Thure Palmgren is of considerable importance, although the consequences cannot be overlooked.
• - See also Subchapter 23.1.

 

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21.3.6
Reports from Deck 8

In the fore part were the accommodations of the master, the chief engineer and the radio officer as well as the radio room located more or less directly below the bridge. At port side behind the chief engineer's accommodation the owners' cabin was located which was occupied by one of the senior pilots from Stockholm and his lady.

The master, the chief engineer and the Stockholm pilots with their ladies are missing. Whilst Captain Arvo Andresson according to Silver Linde's doubtful statements was said to be on the bridge at ca. 01.00 hours, chief engineer Lembit Leiger was seen by safety officer Ervin Roden and others when stepping into a liferaft together with captain Avo Piht and the Veide twins (dance girls). All 4 are considered to be missing.

In the aft part there were several crew cabins and the day-rooms of the officers and crew. During the first heavy heel to starboard one crew member looked out of one of the windows at starboard side of the dayroom and saw "another ship in the sky ".