SKAGERRAK — 1990 · Major Tragedy
The Scandinavian Star Ferry Fire
The Bahamas-flagged ferry Scandinavian Star left Oslo for Frederikshavn, Denmark, on 6 April 1990. In the early hours of 7 April two separate fires broke out on board. Of the 482 people aboard, 159 died, most from dense smoke, and the great majority of victims were Norwegian. The fires were found to have been deliberately set, but who set them has never been established. Norwegian police reopened the case in 2014 and closed it for lack of evidence in 2016. Theories of insurance fraud and crew involvement were debated; a Danish review published in 2024 rejected some of them. The disaster changed international maritime safety rules.
- Date
- 1990
- Place
- Oslo–Frederikshavn route, Norway, Skagerrak, NO
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 58.3000, 10.7000 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 6 April 1990The ferry left Oslo.
- 7 April 1990Night-time fires killed 159.
- 2014Norwegian police reopened the case.
- 2016The case was closed for lack of evidence.
- 2024A Danish task force published its report.
Sources
- UPI — On This Day: Scandinavian Star ferry fire kills 159 upi.com ↗
- Life in Norway — Remembering the Scandinavian Star Ferry Disaster lifeinnorway.net ↗
- UPI
- Life in Norway
Source grade B: at least one verifiable linked source. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
Related Cases
More cases from the 1990s
Categories
Collections
🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.