Netflix's latest Polish historical miniseries, Heweliusz, is a dramatic retelling of the Sinking of MS Jan Heweliusz in January 1993, which is one of the biggest maritime tragedies in post-war Poland.The miniseries, which premiered on 5 November, sheds light on the systematic failure that led to this harrowing incident. The titular vessel went down off the coast of Rügen in the Baltic Sea, while it was bound on its usual business from Świnoujście to Ystad. A faulty stern gate and a deadly storm caused the vessel to lose stability, resulting in its tragic capsizing. Out of 64 people on board, only 9 survived. The authorities were able to discover only 37 bodies from the debris in the aftermath.Heweliusz's wreck remains at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, making it one of the biggest and most painful reminders of a Maritime disaster in Polish history.More on this in our story.MS Jan Heweliusz was nicknamed 'the floating coffin'While MS Jan went down in January 1993, it had earned a questionable reputation in Poland. After launching in 1977, the ship was used for transporting trucks and rail cars. But after 15 years of service, the ship had recorded more than 30 accidents, including a near-capsizing in 1982 and a major deck fire in 1986. The fire destroyed a major part of the MS Jan Heweliusz. Polish Ocean Lines ordered repairs and 70 tons of concrete was added, compromising the vessel's stability.These incidents and reported issues with the vessel's body had earned the ship the fateful nickname of 'The floating coffin'. Four days before the disaster, Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz noticed the damaged stern gate and decided to halt the departure for repairs. But the shipowners ordered the Captain and crew to provisionally repair the gate and have it properly repaired during the upcoming journey.MS Jan Heweliusz: The tragic incident in January 1993After enduring more than 30 accidents, MS Jan met its fate in January 1993.On 13 January, the vessel was ready for its usual journey from Świnoujście to Ystad but was two hours behind schedule. In addition to the faulty stern gate, the weather forecasts did not favour the journey and a storm was expected in the Baltic Sea. Still undeterred, MS Jan Heweliusz set on its fateful voyage and was engulfed in a brutal storm. The winds reached 160 km/per hour and the waves were about 5 m high. All the factors were against the vessel and it started to lose stability the next day.The crew tried their best to control the strong winds by filling the port-side ballast tanks and the Captain initiated an evacuation protocol but everything was in vain. Despite numerous efforts, MS Jan Heweliusz capsized in the sea at around 4:30 am Polish time, leaving a trail of dead bodies and only nine survivors in its wake.What can you expect from the Netflix series? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostNetflix's historical series is a dramatic retelling of this 1993 disaster, which still plagues the hearts of the victims' families and will always be remembered as the biggest maritime disaster in Poland’s history.The five-part series aims to investigate the incidents before this fateful incident, the eventual cover-up and the systematic failure that led to many deaths. As seen in the trailer, the series shines a special light on the victims' families and widows, who were left to fend for themselves after this harrowing incident. Through fictional characters, Heweliusz aims to show the families' fight for justice and how the blame for this tragedy was shifted onto the late Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz and his crew.The series will not only offer an emotional recount of events but also explore the lingering suspicions and conspiracy theories that have persisted in the years since the vessel went down.You can stream Heweliusz on Netflix.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.