NordenBladet – The preliminary investigation into the disappearance of a Finnish man in his twenties from the Baltic Princess cruise ship in November has been completed, and the ship’s captain is now suspected of neglecting good seamanship and rescue operations. The incident occurred during a PeIsKä cruise organized by Turku University economics students, and the man was last seen on top of the night club structures on the ship.
The Baltic Princess, operated by the shipping company, was on a PeIsKä cruise organized by Turku University economics students when a Finnish man in his twenties disappeared from the ship in November. The shipping company was notified of the man’s disappearance at three o’clock in the morning by an informant who had last seen the man on top of the night club structures.
According to the shipping company, after the announcement, the ship began to examine surveillance camera recordings and search for the man inside the ship. However, the Coast Guard was not alerted until four hours later, after seven in the morning.
According to the Coast Guard of Western Finland, the man had climbed onto the railings on the outer roof of the ship’s night club and fell into the sea almost immediately. Neither the ship’s master nor the ship’s staff had a definite observation about the man falling into the sea.
Because of this, alerting the authorities was delayed, leading to the suspicion that the ship’s captain neglected good seamanship and rescue operations. The matter has now been transferred to the prosecutor’s district of Åland for prosecution consideration.
Additional information:
* MS Baltic Princess is a cruiseliner owned by the Estonia-based ferry operator Tallink and operated under their Silja Line brand. She was built by Aker Finnyards Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland in 2008. The ship began service on the cruise route between Helsinki, Finland to Tallinn, Estonia on 17 August 2008. From 1 February 2013 the ship began service on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route. It features a variety of amenities, including restaurants, bars, a spa, and a variety of entertainment options.
Featured image: Silja Line terminal (NordenBladet)