MS Jan Heweliusz

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	Sank 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]