 MS Jan Heweliusz in 1986, damaged after a fire
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Poland | |
| Name | MS Jan Heweliusz |
| Owner | Polish Ocean Lines |
| Operator | Euroafrica Shipping Lines |
| Builder | Trosvik Verksted A/S |
| Launched | 29 January 1977 |
| Completed | 1977 |
| In service | July 1977 |
| Out of service | 14 January 1993 |
| Identification | IMO number: 7527904 Call sign: SQIK |
| Fate | Sunk in the Baltic Sea on 14 January 1993 |
| General characteristics of MS Jan Heweliusz | |
| Class and type | RO/RO ferry |
| Tonnage | 3,015 BRT |
| Length | 125.66 m |
| Beam | 17.02 m |
| Installed power | CODAD 4 × Sulzer 10AL25/30, 7,400 PS total |
| Speed | 16.75 knots |
| Capacity | 2,035 tons (up to 47 trucks) |
MS Jan Heweliusz was a Norwegian-built Polish ferry named after astronomer Johannes Hevelius (Polish: Jan Heweliusz) that served on the route Ystad–Świnoujście. It was built in Norway in 1977 and was owned by Polish Ocean Lines and operated by its subsidiary company Euroafrica Shipping Lines.
In the early hours of 14 January 1993, it capsized and sank in 27 metres (88 feet) of water off Cape Arcona off the coast of Rügen in the Baltic Sea while sailing towards Ystad with 64 passengers and crew.[1] The accident claimed the lives of 20 crewmen and 35 passengers. Ten bodies were never found. Nine people were rescued. The sinking of Jan Heweliusz is the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster involving a Polish ship.[1]
- ^ a b Rzeczpospolita article from 2008-12-01 [1]