Models

Physical model of the Estonia

The purpose of the physical model of the ferry Estonia is to provide as accurate general overview as possible of the external appearance and the constructional and technical characteristics of the original vessel as of 27 September 1994.
The model will primarily be used to demonstrate the sequence of the sinking of the vessel during interviews with survivors and in public.

The model was created on the basis of the digital model of the Estonia using 3D printing technology (to achieve the most accurate result in the shortest possible time). The model was created by 3DKoda OÜ as part of the public procurement ‘Digital modelling, 3DKoda printing and painting of a vessel model’. The model is at a scale of 1:150, i.e. the dimensions of the model (length, width, height) are 1,047 mm, 207 mm, and 324 mm, respectively.

The hull of the model (main structure) was assembled from three separate 3D-printed sections. Many of the model details were separately 3D printed, painted and then glued to the hull. The movable parts of the model include the fin stabilisers that can be extended out and retracted into their corresponding recesses.

In addition, the model can be placed on a frame and rotated around three axes (x, y, and z axes) to demonstrate the different positions of the vessel during sinking.
 

Digital bathymetric model of the wreck and seabed

The purpose of the digital bathymetric model of the wreck of the vessel Estonia and the surrounding seabed is to provide as accurate general overview as possible of the current position of the wreck of the Estonia on the seabed and the surrounding landforms. The model was primarily created for the purpose of demonstrating the position of the wreck during various surveys and in public.

This model is based on two bathymetric surveys carried out by Stockholm University as part of preliminary marine surveys on 13 July 2021 using a multibeam echo sounder. The first survey covered an area of approximately 2.6 × 1.8 km; the second survey was conducted around the wreck (an area of approximately 680 × 340 m). The processed digital elevation models of the two multibeam echo sounder surveys have been compiled into a high-resolution grid (cell size: 0.50 × 0.50 m). For more information on the multibeam echo sounder, its survey, and the corresponding data processing, see pages 12, 23–24 and 30–41 of the EL21-Estonia report of the Stockholm University.

The  shipwreck  itself  is  for  the  most  part  well  imaged  by  the  detailed  multibeam  survey. The exceptions are the aft part of the shipwreck and the contact between the hull and the seafloor along the northern side. This is due to a pronounced trench formed along the shipwreck in these areas, which caused an acoustic shadow, i.e. the beams of the multibeam are blocked from reaching the hull’s contact with the seafloor (as a result, the negative angles of the hull were not formed on the model). This data must not be over-interpreted (for example, by searching for new holes in the wreck using this model).
 

To see the available camera controls and navigation options, click the Help icon in the bottom-right corner (first from left, shaped like a question mark). To see a monochrome model, click the Model Inspector icon (third from left, layers symbol) and select Matcap under Geometry.

Physical bathymetric model of the wreck and seabed

The purpose of the physical bathymetric model of the wreck of the vessel Estonia and the surrounding seabed is to provide as accurate general overview as possible of the current position of the wreck of the Estonia on the seabed and the surrounding landforms. The model was primarily created for the purpose of demonstrating the position of the wreck during various surveys and in public.

The model was created on the basis of the digital bathymetric model of the wreck and seabed using 3D printing technology (to achieve the most accurate result in the shortest possible time). The model was created by 3DKoda OÜ. 
The model is at a scale of 1:1088, i.e. the dimensions of the model (length, width, height) are 735.29 mm, 500.00 mm, and 51.15 mm, respectively. The model was assembled from six separate 3D-printed sections that were painted after assembly depending on the depth of the seafloor.
 

Digital model of the theoretical wreck with seabed bathymetry

The purpose of the digital model of the theoretical wreck of the ferry Estonia and the surrounding seabed bathymetry is to provide general overview of the current position of the wreck of the Estonia on the seabed and the surrounding landforms. The model has been primarily created for the purpose of demonstrating the position of the wreck during various surveys and in public.

The model is based on two previous models – a digital model of the ferry Estonia and a digital bathymetric model of the wreck and seabed to provide a more accurate overview of the wreck's position. From the digital ship model of the ferry Estonia, the bow visor and ramp, the lifeboats and life rafts have been removed and the fin stabilisers have been retracted.

To obtain a theoretical model of the wreck, the ship model has been rotated and positioned according to the position of the wreck on the seabed. The seabed survey grid of the wreck has been removed from the digital bathymetric model of the wreck and seabed and replaced by the theoretical model of the wreck.

Photogrammetric wreck model of the ferry Estonia

The purpose of the photogrammetric wreck model of the ferry Estonia is to provide as accurate an overview as possible of the current state of the wreck of the Estonia and its immediate vicinity on the seabed. The model was primarily created to thoroughly examine the state of the whole wreck and to inform the public accordingly.

The model was created as the result of main marine surveys between 6 June and 22 June 2022 by a Swedish company, Ocean Discovery AB. Photogrammetry is a technique which creates digital 3D models by using many ordinary 2D photos of the object. All photos must overlap each other. The postprocessing software then finds matching points on different photos and seams them all together. This means that a large number of photos must be taken to obtain a good result. Approximately 45 000 high resolution 50 megapixel photos were taken to generate this model.

The original plan was to also include up to 20 m of the surrounding seabed in the photogrammetric model along with the inside of the car deck. However, the surrounding seabed was not imaged successfully, and due to poor visibility some parts of the wreck could not be photographed. The car deck suffered not only from poor visibility but also from a large risk of entanglement (and subsequent loss) for the ROV due to the amount of internal obstacles.

To see the available camera controls and navigation options, click the Help icon in the bottom-right corner (first from left, shaped like a question mark). To see a monochrome model, click the Model Inspector icon (third from left, layers symbol) and select Matcap under Geometry.

Digital model of the bow ramp of the Estonia

The purpose of the digital model of the bow ramp of the ferry Estonia is to provide as accurate an overview as possible of the current state of the bow ramp of the Estonia and its damage. The model was primarily created to compare the actual construction of the bow ramp with the theoretical (designed) construction of the bow ramp, to analyze and examine the compliance of the construction to the drawings, and to determine the causes of damage to the ramp.

During the preparatory site surveys of the preliminary assessment of the new information of the Estonia ferry accident in July 2021, it was discovered that the vessel’s bow ramp is no longer attached to the shipwreck - it was resting on seabed and was supported by the wreck. The bow ramp of ferry Estonia was recovered from the seabed early in the morning on July 25, 2023 and transported to the current storage location rented by the ESIB via Paldiski South Harbour to examine it thoroughly.

This digital twin of the bow ramp is a realistic, photo-textured 3D model created by applying a photogrammetric mosaic onto the surface of an accurate and precise 3D model created by laser scanning of the recovered ramp. The model was created by Vertz3D Studios OÜ as part of the public procurement.

The model is displayed as the ramp is stored in the storage location. This means that the actual lower side of the ramp (the girder side) is seen as the upper side, and the actual upper side (the flat part that the vehicles drove over) rests on the storage beams, which can also be partially seen in the digital model.

Ramp laser scan raw data (.stl format and 5.36 GB) can be downloaded here.

To see the available camera controls and navigation options, click the Help icon in the bottom-right corner (first from left, shaped like a question mark). To see a monochrome model, click the Model Inspector icon (third from left, layers symbol) and select Matcap under Geometry.