Exemplary maritime rescue operation off Ustka - a model of cooperation and efficiency
On March 15th at approximately 16:42, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center received a distress call regarding an engine failure on a boat near Jarosławiec, carrying three people on board. Rescue unit R-17 from the Maritime Search and Rescue Service (MSPiR), a Border Guard patrol vessel, and a helicopter from the Gdynia Naval Aviation Brigade (Polish Navy) were immediately dispatched to the scene.
In brief
Three people were rescued from a boat with engine failure about 12 nautical miles off the coast near Ustka. Following a report to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, the R-17 vessel of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service, a Polish Border Guard patrol boat and a helicopter of the Gdynia Naval Aviation Brigade of the Polish Navy were dispatched. Rescuers secured the three men and began towing the damaged vessel. Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service director Sebastian Kluska described the operation as a model of cooperation between services. The incident occurred on 15 March 2025 at around 16:42.
Swift action and coordination
The helicopter crew located the boat about 12 nautical miles off the coast near Ustka. After R-17 arrived and confirmed that no one required urgent evacuation or medical assistance, the helicopter returned to base. MSPiR rescuers, alongside the Border Guard crew, secured the three men and began towing the disabled boat.
A model of effective cooperation
- This is a textbook example of how maritime services should collaborate. The Border Guard, Navy, and MSPiR work like a well-oiled machine. Each has its role, but when lives are at stake, they form one efficient, fast, and effective team, emphasizes Sebastian Kluska, Director of the Maritime Search and Rescue Service.
Beyond slogans – real-life teamwork
The operation demonstrates that inter-service cooperation isn’t just a slogan — it’s a reality that translates into saved lives and enhanced safety on the Baltic Sea. MSPiR, the Border Guard, and the Polish Navy have once again shown they can respond rapidly and work together seamlessly, even in the toughest conditions. This is a model worth following for maritime rescue operations.
Prepared for future challenges
- Our priority is always human safety. Every minute counts, and there’s no room for chaos in such missions. What happened off Ustka reflects the very essence of professional, coordinated action, Sebastian Kluska adds.
With a growing number of recreational vessels on the Baltic, operations like this prove that Poland’s maritime rescue services are prepared for any challenge. The collaboration between MSPiR, the Border Guard, and the Polish Navy remains a cornerstone of safety along the Polish coastline.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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