MS Express Samina - Chronology of The Sinking

Chronology of The Sinking

At 10:15 PM, three minutes after impact, the ship listed by five degrees to port. By 10:25 PM the list increased to fourteen degrees and the six meter gash received water from the ocean. By 10:29 the ship listed by twenty-three degrees; this prevented the launching of additional lifeboats. Three of the eight lifeboats were launched. At 10:32 the ship listed by 33 degrees. By 10:50 the ship lay on its side. Since the clock on the bridge stopped at 11:02, authorities knew that the ship sank at that time. The degree of damage, the scenario, and the open space in the RORO ferry design (other vessels lack large, open spaces, so a sinking is less likely for them) led to the sinking.

Passengers were apparently unaided by the crew in evacuating, and there was widespread panic among them. It was questioned later if the crew were engaged watching a televised football match at the time. Inflatable life rafts blew away in the windy conditions as soon as they were inflated, before anyone could board them; only four of the ship's eight solid lifeboats were able to be launched before the ship's list prevented further launches. Some passengers also jumped from the ship, while ten bodies were found still trapped in the hull.