Estonia crew list

Crew list of the Estonia during her last voyage, by department. Those who survived are listed in italics.

DECK CREW

Captain Arvo Andresson, Master

Juhan Herma, Chief Officer

Tormi Ainsalu, Second Officer (A)

Peeter Kannussaar, Second Officer (B)

Andres Tammes, Third Officer

Kaimar Kikas, Fourth Officer

Tiit Sooaluste, Chief Radio Operator

Vello Ruben, Boatswain

Raivo Vister, Senior AB Seaman

Aulis Lee, AB Seaman

Aldo Metspalu, AB Seaman

Aleksander Salu, AB Seaman

Silver Linde, AB Seaman

Valdur Matt, AB Seaman

Viktor Pšenitšnöi, AB Seaman

Viktor Bogdanov, Ship’s Doctor

Captain Avo Piht, Master (of the second crew; off-duty and on board to take an examination)

Einar Kukk, Trainee Second Officer (off-duty and on board as a trainee before assignation to the Vironia/Diana II)

Captain Jüri Aavik, Nautical Adviser (not included among the crew)

ENGINEERING CREW

Lembit Leiger, Chief Engineer

Arvo Tulvik, First Engineer

Peeter Tüür, Second Engineer

Margus Treu, Third Engineer

Agur Targama, Fourth Engineer

Andres Verro, Refrigerating Engineer

Henrik Sillaste, Systems Engineer

Anatoli Ivanov, Electric Engineer

Taavi Raba, Chief Motorman/Assistent Refrigeraring Engineer

Tanel Moosaar, Chief Motorman

Hannes Kadak, Chief Motorman

Elmar Siegel, Chief Motorman

Vassili Märtson, Motorman/Welder

Ivan Siljajev, Motorman/Turner

Arvi Rohumaa, Motorman/Electrician

Mati Sumberg, Motorman/Electrician

VICTUALLING & HOTEL CREW

Andres Vihmar, Hotel Purser

Ervin Roden, Safety Assistant Officer

Vassili Simonovitš, Safety Assistant Officer

Valev Prei, Fire Safety Assistant

Aive Pitk, Chief Administrator

Elve Kopli, Information Administrator

Tiina Rohulaid, Information Administrator

Katrin Tamm, Chief Hostess

Mari Hamburg, Chief Cabin Hostess

Ande Kuusk, Cabin Hostess

Anne-Helle Vilpert, Cabin Hostess

Elviira Bötker, Cabin Hostess

Ester Juuro, Cabin Hostess

Helve Randma, Cabin Hostess

Ilmi Raidma, Cabin Hostess

Juta Heamägi, Cabin Hostess

Liivi Kuik, Cabin Hostess

Liivi Rebane, Cabin Hostess

Luule Saarniit, Cabin Hostess

Milvi Nikolajeva, Cabin Hostess

Silvia Niglas, Cabin Hostess

Sirje Saidla, Cabin Hostess

Tiina Nurme, Cabin Hostess

Tiina Teesaar, Cabin Hostess

Urve Aun, Cabin Hostess

Adelja Kolesnikova, Maid/Charwoman

Alla Annus, Maid/Charwoman

Larissa Skorohhodova, Maid/Charwoman

Ljudmilla Pasternak, Maid/Charwoman

Ljudmilla Raudsepp, Maid/Charwoman

Malle Kivipöld, Maid/Charwoman

Olga Makarova, Maid/Charwoman

Valentina Plehhanova, Maid/Charwoman

Helen Reimann, Administrator Trainee

Aita Oja, Cabin Hostess (off-duty)

Krista Kööp, Cabin Hostess (off-duty)

TAXFREE SHOP PERSONNEL

Tiina Müür, Shop Manager

Hele Möttus, Shop Assistant

Heli Belzetskaja, Shop Assistant

Jüri Vask, Shop Assistant

Katti Purru, Shop Assistant

Maiga Järvi, Shop Assistant

Pille Tilleman, Shop Assistant

Riina Parnabas, Shop Assistant

Timmo Vöösa, Shop Assistant

Veiko Petterson, Shop Assistant

Ago Tomingas, Trainee Shop Assistant

STOREROOM PERSONNEL

Stanislav Kolöševski, Storeroom Manager

Aarne Koppel, Storekeeper

Erki Pius, Storekeeper

Kalev Vahtras, Storekeeper

Siiri Same, Accountancy Operator

Tiina Arro, Currency Exchanger

KITCHEN CREW

Meida Valdmets, Head Cook

Airi Aavaste, Cook

Andres Pill, Cook

Eero Olavi Kippa, Cook

Eva Kuuse, Cook

Ille Molloka, Cook

Kuldar Raudmann, Cook

Malle Orumaa, Cook

Mare Veske, Cook

Raivo Freimann, Cook

Riho Müür, Cook

Tönu Lomp, Cook

Ülle Tombak, Cook

Aare Kimmel, Kitchen worker

Evi Antuk, Kitchen worker

Peeter Palgunov, Kitchen worker

Adam Makarenko, Dishwasher

Kalju Liiv, Dishwasher

Lia Rahamägi, Dishwasher

Riiko Partsi, Dishwasher

Tiit Siska, Dishwasher

Andrus Saadi, Trainee Cook

Kalev Kukk, Trainee Cook

MESS PERSONNEL

Anneli Nisu, Mess worker

Helve Blumfeldt, Mess worker

Katrin Lindok, Mess worker

RESTAURANT “SEA SIDE”

Riina-Mall Räst, Chief Restaurant Manager

Andrus Ventsel, Waiter

Anneli Oviir, Waitress

Eivo Vald, Waiter

Erkki-Janek Talver, Waiter

Urmas Uduste, Waiter

Vahur Vuks, Waiter

RESTAURANT “POSEIDON”

Ülle Arula, Restaurant Manager

Epp Tudelepp, Waitress

Eve Kiiri, Waitress

Kätlin Kaljurand, Waitress

Katrin Alla, Waitress

Katrin Kuusk, Waitress

Liia Kuur, Waitress

Liine Alla, Waitress

Riina Laak, Waitress

Sirje Johansson, Waitress

Sirje Köplimagi, Waitress

Terje Leemets, Waitress

Terje Löuk, Waitress

Lilian Rahuoja, Cleaner/Dish washer

Valentina Toom, Cleaner/Dish washer

“BALTIC BAR”

Paul Andersson, Head Bartender

Lauri Rätsep, Barman

Piia Lass, Barmaid

Tiina Sillandi, Barmaid
Angelika Kübar, Waitress
Lea Aaliste, Waitress
Liia Habermann, Waitress
Külli Kalvet, Waitress
Natalja Navjortkina, Dishwasher

PUB “ADMIRAL”

Marika Sarap, Barmaid
Merje Prommik, Barmaid
Saidya Kivila, Waitress

Tiina Mölder, Waitress

CAFÉ “NEPTUNUS”

Raivo Sinimeri, Restaurant manager

Mari Rebane, Waitress

Maria Kilumets, Waitress

Signe Valdmets, Waitress

NIGHTCLUB “ESTONIA”

Mart Põder, Barman
Heli Põld, Waitress

CONFERENCE ROOM

Kristiina Kruusmaa, Conference Administrator

Marika Pall, Conference Hostess

SAUNA

Katrin Kaur, Barmaid

OTHER OFF-DUTY AND TRAINEE CREWMEMBERS¹

Helin Paeorg, Barmaid

Sirje Kanter, Trainee

ENTERTAINMENT TROUPE

Pierre Isacsson, Cruise Manager

Hedi Murumägi, Cruise Manager

Urmas Alender, Musician and Singer

Tarvi Pihlak, lighting technician

Andrus Kullamaa, lighting technician

Tiit Meos, disc jockey

“HENRIK GOJS ORCHESTRA”

Henryk Goj, Musician (orchestra leader)

Adam Halter, Musician²

Jerzy Florysiak, Musician (saxhoponist)

Jerzy Swierczek, Musician²

Mihai Turdean, Musician (drummer)

DANCE TROUPE “PANTERA”

Ester Hellerma, Dance troupe leader

Anneli Konrad, Dancer

Hannely Veide, Dancer

Hannika Veide, Dancer

Heddi Männiste, Dancer
Liina Ivask, Dancer
Marge Rull, Dancer
Mirjam Maripuu, Dancer
Risto Ojasaar, Dancer/troupe electrician

ADVISERS

Jan Bergendahl, Economy Superintendent/Chief Purser

Magnus Andersson, Computer Supervisor/Advisor

Mikael Dahlin, Kitchen Supervisor/Advisor

Hans Svensson, Restoration Supervisor/Advisor

Toni Heinonen, Store Purser

Carita Barasinski, Conference Purser/Conference Hostess

Paula Liikamaa, Croupier

Peter Järvinen, Croupier

Susanne Pundi, Restaurant Purser (off-duty and not on the list)

The crew of the Estonia included 187 people, 16 of whom were deck crew members (8 officers and 8 ratings), 16 engineering crew members (8 engineers and 8 ratings), 117 victualling/hotel crew members, 10 off-duty or trainee crew members (4 off-duty crewmembers and 6 crewmembers who were undergoing training on the Estonia before being assigned to the new ferry Vironia), 8 advisers and 20 entertainers. Counting also the ninth and off-duty adviser Susanne Pundi and the nautical adviser Juri Aavik, this number grew to 189 people. Out of these 189 people, the 159 members of the deck crew, engine crew and victualling/hotel crew (nearly all Estonians, except for five Russians and one Ukrainian) were employed by the Estline, while the entertainers (14 Estonians, one Swede and five Polish with Swedish citizenship) worked under other contracts and the advisers (all Swedes except for a Finn) were employed by the AB Hornet, the ship management company used by Nordström & Thulin.

Only 43 crewmembers survived, 22,75 % of the 189 crewmembers, but this percentage was twice the percentage of survivors among the passengers (11,75 %), due to the crew cabins being located in the 7th and 8th decks, nearest to the exit, and to the crewmembers being able to crawl out from their cabin windows, unlike the passengers, whose cabin windows couldn’t be opened. In addition to the 43 survivors, 37 of the 95 bodies recovered belonged to crew members, thus confirming, along with the sightings of many other crewmembers who did not survive but were never found, that a relatively large part of the crew managed to escape from the ship.

The survival percentage was higher among the engine crew members (68,75 %, with 4 of the 8 engineers and all but one of the engine ratings surviving), while only 25 % of the deck crew members (4 ratings and no officers) and 15,2 % of the victualling/hotel crew (19 people out of 125, both survivors and total number including the 8 trainees and off-duty victualling/hotel crew members, one of whom survived) survived. Two of the 9 advisers (22,22 %) and 6 of the 20 entertainers (30 %) also survived.

¹ The other trainee and off-duty crewmembers (Avo Piht, Einar Kukk, Ago Tomingas, Kalev Kukk, Andrus Saadi, Helen Reimann, Aita Oja and Krista Kööp) are not listed below because they are already listed in their departments (deck crew, kitchen personnel, shop personnel etc.).

² Adam Halter and Jerzy Swierczek were bassist and drummer, but I haven’t been able to determine who was the bassist and who was the drummer.