Polish icebreakers in action on the Odra and Vistula rivers
On 13 January 2026, the icebreaking season began on Poland’s inland waterways, covering rivers and lakes within the Szczecin Water Hub and the lower Vistula. Six Wody Polskie icebreakers participated on the first day, breaking ice on Lake Dąbie and the upper Odra East branch towards Gryfino. Three vessels widened the ice channel on Lake Dąbie to 300–500 meters, allowing broken ice to flow towards the Szczecin–Świnoujście fairway.
In brief
The icebreaking campaign on Polish inland waters began on 13 January 2026, with six Wody Polskie icebreakers working on the first day. Three vessels widened the channel on Lake Dąbie to 300 to 500 metres, allowing ice floes to drift towards the Szczecin-Świnoujście fairway, while the icebreakers Puma, Tygrys and Rekin cut a channel through ice jams on the lower Vistula near Kiezmark. The Maritime Office icebreaker Planeta I made a voyage on the Świnoujście-Szczecin route, and the plan for the following days provides for the participation of 13 Polish and German vessels.
Meanwhile, three icebreakers – Puma, Tygrys, and Rekin – operated on the lower Vistula, cutting channels through ice jams near Kiezmark, ensuring safe downstream movement of ice. Operations proceeded without disruption.
The first voyage of the year by the Maritime Office vessel Planeta I took place over the weekend on the Świnoujście–Szczecin route, performing icebreaking tasks in accordance with maritime authority responsibilities.
Plans for the following days include extending operations upstream with 13 Polish and German vessels. Icebreakers Dzik, Odyniec, and Ocelot maintain the ice channel on Lake Dąbie. Daily monitoring of water levels and weather forecasts informs tactical decisions.
These icebreaking operations are part of routine safety measures to maintain navigability, reduce the risk of ice jams, and protect hydraulic infrastructure.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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