Disaster in the Baltic: The Jan Heweliusz

On 14 January 1993, the Polish ferry MV Jan Heweliusz capsized in a hurricane-force Baltic storm off Cape Arkona, Germany. Fifty-five people died and only nine crew members survived. It remains Poland’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster.

This episode of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs traces the full story of the ill-fated roll-on/roll-off ferry. Built in Norway in 1977, she was plagued by accidents, stability problems and a questionable repair after a 1986 fire. Days before her final voyage, the stern gate was damaged at Ystad, and the owners ordered only a temporary fix.

Hear what happened as Storm Verena struck during the overnight crossing from Świnoujście, Poland, to Ystad, Sweden, and how a rescue in the dark came too late for most of those on board. Then follow the aftermath: conflicting investigations, maritime chamber rulings, and a 2005 judgment from the European Court of Human Rights in Brudnicka and Others v. Poland, which found that Poland’s maritime tribunals lacked independence.

** No AI was used to create this episode.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried and you can find him at seansigfried.com.

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