Near Miss on the Motława River: Tourist Vessel Attempts to Cross Closed Floodgates in Gdańsk

Several passengers can be seen on board without visible life jackets. Maritime safety experts describe the incident as a flagrant breach of navigation protocol, which – had the floodgates been activated – could have ended in a serious accident or loss of life.

SAR Director Sebastian Kluska: “This Was Not a Misunderstanding – It Was a Life-Threatening Act”

- The floodgates are not decorative – they are critical infrastructure designed to protect the city from catastrophic flooding, said Sebastian Kluska, Director of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service (MSPiR SAR). - The attempt to force passage wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was a deliberate act that put people’s lives in danger.

Kluska emphasizes that, regardless of the crew’s intent, such actions must be treated with utmost severity.

- Water does not forgive. After analysing this video, I believe this individual should be permanently banned from operating any motorized vessel. We’ve had enough maritime disasters in Poland.

No Safety Equipment, No Safety Culture

The footage shows no sign of life jackets, despite the vessel navigating through a sluiced section adjacent to mechanical flood barriers – an area that always carries the risk of sudden water level shifts.

The Problem Isn’t Just Missing Gear – It’s Missing Awareness

From a coastal governance and maritime tourism perspective, the root of the problem is not just the lack of life vests. It’s the lack of risk awareness. Even short, seemingly calm tourist cruises must be treated as operations that require proper procedures, safety equipment, staff training, and full situational awareness.

Having a vessel and a license is not enough. A culture of responsibility is essential: clear passenger briefings, real-time risk assessments, and a full understanding of the operational and technical limits of infrastructure – including locks, drawbridges, and floodgates.

Kluska: “Urban Water Tourism Is Not a Stroll on the Pier”

- Urban navigation regulations are often treated as a formality, warns the SAR director. - But inland water operations must be overseen and executed with full accountability. Failing to act after incidents like this one is an open invitation to the next disaster.

He adds, “We need to repeat this until it becomes a norm: by protecting ourselves, we also protect others. That should be the starting point.”

2022 Accident Still Unresolved in Practice

In October 2022, four people died in a tourist vessel accident on the Kaszubski Canal in Gdynia. At the time, maritime professionals and local authorities vowed to implement new safety standards. Three years later, the Motława incident suggests that many of those promises remain unfulfilled.

The Daily Mare’s Editorial Appeal: Let This Be a Safe Season

In light of the recent event, we call on:

• The City of Gdańsk and relevant maritime authorities (including the Regional Water Management Board and the Maritime Office) to carry out immediate inspections of all tourist vessels operating in the city centre;
• Operators and vessel owners to review their internal procedures, equipment standards, and passenger briefing protocols without delay;
• Local governments and tourism bodies to initiate water safety education campaigns targeted at both industry workers and the public.

Safety on the water should never be conditional. It must be systemic, enforced, and practiced daily – before a tragedy occurs. And yes, it starts with life jackets – but leadership and accountability must come from the top.