- Grif
The Grif was a patrol boat used by the Estonian Navy from 1994 to 2001 for ensuring the safety of the Gulf of Finland and the coastal waters of the Gulf of Bothnia. It was built in 1976 at the Feodosia Shipyard in Crimea.
The patrol boat Grif belonged to the Soviet Navy along with its sister ship Leopard until 1991. In 1992, members of the Estonian Defense League occupied the boats marked with hull numbers 631 and 645 so that they would serve the interests of the Estonian state and defense under the Defense League flag. The boats were named Edgar and Erika.
The boats were transferred to the possession of the Estonian Navy on the 14th. On June 14, 1994, the boats were transferred to the Estonian Navy and were named Grif and Leopard. After active service, the Leopard was decommissioned, and the Grif was handed over to the Estonian Maritime Museum on the 27th. April 2001. Grif has been on display at the Seaplane Harbour pier since 2012. Visitors can view the ship and find additional information about it at the outdoor area of Seaplane Harbour.
- Mare
The Mare, converted from a fishing vessel, served as the research vessel of the Estonian Maritime Museum from 1983 to 2018. It was used to search for, discover, and study hundreds of wrecks, artifacts belonging to ships, and aircraft that had fallen into the sea.
The fishing vessel MSTB-303 was built in 1968, and until 1982, it belonged to the Pärnu Kalur Fishing Collective. After that, the Estonian Maritime Museum purchased the vessel and reconstructed it in 1989 to meet all the requirements for a maritime archaeological research vessel.
Over the course of 35 years, the Mare participated in numerous research expeditions both in Estonian waters and elsewhere in the Baltic Sea. Visitors can observe the ship and discover more information about it at the outdoor area of Seaplane Harbour.
- Maru
The patrol vessel Maru was used by the Estonian Border Guard from 1995 to 2012 to ensure maritime border security and participated in several maritime rescue exercises and operations.
The vessel was built in 1964 by Turku Shipyard Ltd. The vessel was in use by the Finnish Border Guard until 1994, when it was decided to transfer it to the Estonian Border Guard.
At the beginning of its service, Maru was involved in the so-called “fish war,” which erupted in April 1995 between Estonia and Latvia over maritime border disputes. During this time, the Estonian Border Guard dispatched armed vessels to the Gulf of Riga to prevent Latvian ships from fishing in Estonian territorial waters.
The border patrol vessel Maru was in active service until 2010, and since 2012, the vessel has been stationed at Seaplane Harbour. Visitors can observe the ship and discover more information about it at the outdoor area of Seaplane Harbour.
- Suur Tõll
Suur Tõll is a national maritime symbol of Estonia. It stands as an important technical monument, representing the most modern icebreaker of its time, and it is the only surviving steamship used in Estonia during the 1920s and 1930s.
Estonia’s oldest and most valuable museum ship was completed in 1914 under an order from the Russian Empire for breaking ice in the Tallinn Bay. The icebreaker, which changed its name five times during its lifetime, traveled under the flags of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, Finland, and Estonia – the ship’s story reflects the turbulent history of the entire Estonian state in the 20th century. You can personally explore its fascinating history – Suur Tõll is open to visitors during Seaplane Harbour’s opening hours.
- Suurop
Suurop is a former R-class patrol boat. It was built in Finland in 1957 and was donated to the Estonian Navy in 1999.
Suurop belonged to the mine-clearing division along with its sister ship Ristnan, where they were used for training conscripts.
In 2005, Suurop was decommissioned, and in 2007, the Estonian Ministry of Defense organized an auction to sell the vessel. The starting price for the vessel was 850,000 kroons, but no bids were received.
Currently, Suurop stands as an exhibition piece at the pier of Seaplane Harbour. Visitors can observe the ship and discover more information about it at the outdoor area of Seaplane Harbour.
- Torm
PVL-105 Torm is a former vessel of the Estonian Border Guard, which was built in 1965-1966 in Bergen, Norway. At that time, the vessel’s name was KNM P968 Arg, and it served in the Norwegian Navy.
Torm was donated to the Estonian Border Guard in December 1994 and classified as a patrol vessel. It was mainly stationed in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, later in Tallinn and Paldiski. In December 1995, Torm participated in the “fish war” between Estonia and Latvia in the Gulf of Riga and in several maritime rescue exercises.
The transfer documents of the aging vessel to the Estonian Maritime Museum were signed on the 2nd. April 2008, in the salon of the icebreaker Suur Tõll. Visitors can view the ship and find additional information about it in the outdoor area of Seaplane Harbour.
- Kalev
Kalev is a former minesweeper of the Estonian Navy, which served in the German Navy under the name Minerva from 1967 to 1995. Afterward, it was handed over to the Estonian state along with its sister ship Olev.
On September 5, 1997, Kalev was integrated into the Estonian Navy, where it served until June 2003. During that time, Kalev repeatedly participated in the Baltic BALTRON mine countermeasures squadron and took part in both squadron and other international exercises.
In October 2004, the vessel was handed over to the Estonian Maritime Museum for preservation. Visitors can view the ship and find additional information about it in the outdoor area of Seaplane Harbour.
- Valvas
Valvas was taken On May 11th 1944, it was taken into service with the U.S. Coast Guard under the name Bittersweet, and 5. On September 1997, it was donated to the Estonian Border Guard.
In Estonia, it has served both as an icebreaker in Pärnu Bay and as a training vessel for cadets at the Naval Academy, participated in rescue operations, and hosted the ceremonial reception of the President of Estonia, Lennart Meri, and the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski. In the 2000 BALTRON exercises, Valvas was the navy’s staff ship.
In 2010, Valvas was decommissioned and since 2014 it has delighted visitors as a museum ship at the Seaplane Harbour The ship is open to visitors during the opening hours of the Seaplane Harbour.