Evening SAR operation in the Baltic. Two kitesurfers stranded offshore

An evening search and rescue operation was launched in the Baltic Sea after two kitesurfers were unable to make their way back to shore near Kołobrzeg. The incident triggered a coordinated response involving harbour authorities and Poland’s maritime SAR service.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 21.02.2026, 21:23 Reading time: 2 min

Rescuers in helmets pull a kitesurfer from icy water onto their boat at night — fot. MSPiR SAR

In brief

Two kitesurfers who were unable to return to shore after dark near the approach to the port in Kołobrzeg were rescued following a report received at 17:46. The Szczecin Emergency Notification Centre passed the information to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, which dispatched the rescue vessel m/s Szkwał and the crew of the Kołobrzeg Coastal Rescue Station. Both kitesurfers were brought ashore and handed over to an emergency medical team, with hypothermia as the main threat. The operation was the 49th intervention of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service SAR in 2026.

At 17:46 local time, CPR Szczecin relayed information to the Morskie Ratownicze Centrum Koordynacyjne (MRCC) regarding two kitesurfers who had lost the ability to safely return to land due to strengthening winds and fading daylight.

A rescue vessel, Szkwał, together with a coastal rescue unit from BSR Kołobrzeg, was dispatched to the scene. The local harbour master’s office played a key role in identifying the developing risk and alerting emergency services.

Coordinated response in reduced visibility

The incident occurred near the port approaches to Kołobrzeg, an area frequently used for recreational water sports. As daylight diminished and wind conditions shifted, the margin for a safe return narrowed significantly.

This deployment marked the 49th operation of the current season carried out by MSPiR SAR. According to its director, Sebastian Kluska, a growing proportion of missions involve leisure users rather than commercial maritime traffic.

Recreational activity and seasonal exposure

The Baltic Sea during transitional and winter months presents a distinct risk profile: short daylight windows, low water temperatures and rapidly changing wind patterns. In such conditions, exposure time becomes critical, and physical fatigue can quickly escalate into a life-threatening situation.

Both individuals were safely brought ashore and assessed by medical personnel. No serious injuries were reported, though the risk of hypothermia was evident.

Rising SAR workload linked to leisure use

From an industry perspective, the case reflects a broader operational trend. Recreational maritime activity — including kitesurfing and small craft operations — is accounting for an increasing share of SAR deployments.

The incident once again underlines the importance of weather monitoring, daylight planning and reliable communication equipment when operating in Baltic waters outside peak summer months.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier