331
1 INTRODUCTION
The Student Special Interest Group of Underwater
Research “SeaQuest” operating at Gdynia Maritime
University is involved in a wide range of human
activity at sea including underwater activities and
operationonthewatersurface,aspectsrelatedtothe
broadlyunderstoodmaritimetransportsafetysystems
andactivitiesof
suchorganizationsastheSearchand
Rescue (SAR) services. The topic of this article is
devotedtotheroleofrescueservicesinthestructures
ofthemaritimetransportsafetysystemsinPoland.
SearchandRescueisastatebudgetaryunitunder
theauthorityoftheministerresponsibleformaritime
affairs.
Itwasestablishedon1January2002underthe
Act on Maritime Safety of 9 November 2000. Since
then,theMaritimeSearchandRescueService[18]has
performedtheobligationssetoutintwointernational
conventionsratifiedbyPolishStates:
InternationalConventiononMaritimeSearchand
Rescue, drawn up
in Hamburg on 27 April 1979
(JournalofLaws1988,No.27,item184),referred
toastheʺSARConventionʺ,
The Convention on the Protection of the Marine
EnvironmentoftheBalticSeaAreaestablishedin
Helsinki on April 9, 1992 (The Helsinki
Convention).
Thestatutorytasksofthe
ʺSARServiceʺ[18]are:
searchandrescueofhumanlifeatsea.
combating threats and pollution of the marine
environment.
performance of other tasks related to maritime
safetydefinedbyprovisionsofseparateacts.ʺSAR
Serviceʺ including administration of the Polish
Maritime Administration Information Platform
and maintenance
of the Alert Receiving Point in
accordance with the International Ship and Port
FacilitySecureCode(ISPS).
The symbolofSARisthe Maltese Cross,derived
fromtheOrderoftheKnightsofMalta,knownasthe
Knights od St. John or Johannites. They are
characterized by their courage, bravery and
generosityinhelpingthoseinneed.Theisoscelesred
MalteseCrosshasfourarms,eachwithanadditional
two pyramids, symbolizing the eight blessings from
theLordJesusʹsermononthemount.
The Role of Rescue Services in the Structures of the
Maritime Transport Safety Systems in Poland
K.Mielniczek,G.Rutkowski,J.Ratajczak&M.Wieczorek
GdyniaMaritimeUniversity,Gdynia,Poland
ABSTRACT:ThepaperisbasedontheactivitiesoftheMaritimeSearchandRescueServiceunitsinPoland.The
information and data contained in the article were obtained through an interview with the rescuers of the
MaritimeRescueCoordinationCentreinGdynia.Theanalysisaimsto
illustratetheimpactoftheactivitiesof
SARunitsinthestructuresofmaritimetransportsecuritysystemsinthePolishSARzoneofresponsibility.In
addition,theorganizationalstructuresandequipmentoftherescueunitswereneatlydescribed.Theresultsof
theanalysedaccidentsatseaintermsofpresenting
similareventsinthefuturearealsoincludedinthispaper.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 18
Number 2
June 2024
DOI:10.12716/1001.18.02.09
332
2 METHODOLOGY
Thefollowingresearchmethodologywasusedinthe
development of this publication: literature and
internetreview,communityinterview among Search
and Rescue rescuers from the Maritime Rescue
Coordinator Centre in Gdynia. Due to the limited
nature of this work, this article focuses only on the
activitiesofPolish
SARunitsinthePolishSearchand
RescueRegion.
Basedonaliteraturereview,thesubjectoftherole
of rescue services in the structures of the maritime
transportsafetysystemsisnotsufficientlydeveloped,
thereforeasmembersofTheStudentSpecialInterest
Group of Underwater ResearchʺSeaQuestʺ we have
takenituponourselvestotrytospreadawarenessof
the role of rescue services in the structures of the
maritimetransportsafetysystemsinPoland.
We would like to thank the lifeguards from the
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Gdynia for
their help in writing this article, for their support,
patienceandtime.
3 ORGANIZATIONOFTHESARSERVICE
3.1 TasksofthePolishSARService
The scope of activities and tasks performed by the
SARserviceinPolandisregulated byArticle117of
theSafetyatSeaAct[14].ThemaintaskoftheSAR
service is to
search for and rescue any person in
distress at sea, regardless of the circumstances in
which they find themselves. This activity is to be
carriedoutby:
1. maintaining a constant readiness to receive and
analysereportsofdistressatsea;
2. planning,conductingandcoordinatingsearchand
rescueoperations;
3.
maintaining maritime rescue forces and resources
inreadiness;
4. interacting during search and rescue operations
withorganizationalunits:
Navy;
StateFireService;
BorderGuards;
Police;
Healthservices;
Otherunitsabletoprovideassistance;
5. Cooperationwithotherrescuesystemsoperatingin
thecountry;
6.
Cooperation with relevant services of other
countries, in particular during search and rescue
operations.
In addition, the SAR service also performs tasks
relatedtomaritimesafetyandcombatinghazardsand
pollutionatsea,andmay perform, as part of rescue
operations,maritimerescueactivities.
3.2 Polishsearchandrescueregion(SRR)
Article117oftheSafetyatSeaAct[14]furtherstates
that:ʺTheboundariesoftheareaofsearchandrescue
inwhichtheSARServiceperformsitstasksand the
rulesofcooperationinthefieldofsavinglivesatsea
with the relevant services of other countries are
determinedbytheagreementsconcludedwiththose
countries.ʺ
The Polish search and rescue region (SRR) [17]
responsibility is delimited by the boundaries of the
PolishFlightInformationRegionovertheBalticSea,
delineated by a line connecting the points with the
followinggeographicalcoordinates:
1. ϕ=54°27’28,03ʺN;λ
=019°38’24,05ʺE–theplace
where the Polish‐Russian state border on the
countermeetstheshoreoftheBalticSea;
2. ϕ=54°36’14,03ʺN;λ=019°24’15,02ʺE;
3. ϕ=55°51’00,00ʺN;λ=017°33’00,00ʺE;
4. ϕ=54°
55’00,00ʺN;λ=015°52’00,00ʺE;
5. ϕ=54°55’00,00ʺN;λ=015°08’07,00ʺE–fromthis
point an arc of a circle with a radius of 30 km
drawn from ARP Rone (ϕ = 55° 04’ 04ʺ N;λ=
014°44’48ʺE)tothe
pointdefinedinpoint6;
6. ϕ=54°55’00,00ʺN;λ=014°21’27,00ʺE;
7. ϕ=54°07’38,00ʺN;λ=014°15’17,00ʺE;
8. ϕ=54°07’34,00ʺN;λ=014°12’05,00ʺE;
9. ϕ=53°59’16,00ʺN;λ=014°14’32,00ʺE;
10. ϕ=53°55’40,00ʺN;λ=014°13’34,00ʺE–Point
where the German‐Polish state border on land
meetstheshoreoftheBalticSea.
Figure1.IllustrativemapofthebordersofthePolishSRR.
Source:Adoptedfrom[17]
In addition to the area delimited above, Polish
internal marine waters are included in the
coordinationofsearchandrescueoperations.
3.3 SearchandRescueRegionsborderingthePolishSRR
ThePolishSRR[17]isborderedbytheareasofsearch
andrescueresponsibilityofthefollowingcountries:
FederalRepublic
ofGermany;
KingdomofDenmark;
KingdomofSweden;
theRussianFederation.
The general principles of cooperation and
collaboration between the States Parties to the SAR
Convention in the conduct of search and rescue
operationsatseaaresetoutintheSARConventionin
Chapter3of
theAnnex[6].
Pursuant to the SAR Convention, relevant
agreements have been signed with neighbouring
statesforcooperationinsearchandrescueoperations
333
at sea. The most important arrangements of these
agreements[17]are:
authorizing Rescue Co‐ordination Centres to
authorize the entry of the Contracting Partiesʹ
rescueunitsintotheir ownterritorytosearchfor
andrescuesurvivors;
authorizing the Rescue Co‐ordination Centres of
theContractingPartiesto
provideeachotherwith
allnecessaryandavailableassistance;
use of the SITREP form for communication
between Rescue Co‐ordination Centres during
searchandrescueoperations.
Figure2. Algorithm presenting activation of international
cooperationbyMaritimeSearchandRescueService.Source:
Adoptedfrom[17]
3.4 OrganizationalStructure
TheSARService[13]comprises:
1. Public Department‐providing administrative,
financial and accounting and legal services,
composed of functional organisational units and
independent work posts; the public department
reportsdirectlytotheDirectoroftheSARService.
2. Maintenance Department‐ensuring adequate
preparation,technicalefficiencyandreadinessfor
rescueoperationsofmarinerescuevessels,coastal
rescue stations, special marine anti‐pollution
vessels and shore‐based equipment and storage
bases; themaintenance department reports to the
deputydirectorofmaintenancedepartment.
3. Operational Department‐ensuring planning,
conduct and coordination of search and rescue
operationsandcombatingpollutionofthe
marine
environment, including those related to the
function of the reception point for ship security
alerts, as well as providing technical support for
the control and information system servers for
Polish ports; the operational department is
subordinated to the deputy director of the
operationaldepartment.
Figure3. Diagram presenting organizational structure of
SARinPoland.Source:Adoptedfrom[18]
3.5 Polishcentresandrescuestations
Figure 4. presents the distribution of Polish SAR
stationsalongthePolishcoast,whichinclude:
Maritime Rescue Co‐ordination Centre (MRCC)
Gdynia;
MaritimeRescueSub‐Centre(MRSC)Swinoujscie;
CoastalRescueStation(CRS)Trzebiez;
CRSDziwnow;
CRSKolobrzeg;
CRSDarlowo;
CRSUstka;
CRSLeba;
CRSWladyslawowo;
CRSGorkiZachodnie;
CRSHel;
CRSSwibno;
CRSSztutowo;
CRSTolkmicko;
Figure4. Polish centres and rescue stations. Source: Own
studybasedon[18]
4 FUNCTIONINGOFTHESARUNIT
4.1 ObjectivesandtasksoftheSARunit
SAR (Search and Rescue) units are organizations
whosegoalistoprovideassistanceintheeventofa
marine emergency or accident. Theirmain task is to
reactquicklyandeffectivelytoemergency situations
334
at sea, to protect the safety of people and property,
andtopreventpossibledamage.Themainpurposeof
theSARunitistoprovideassistanceintheeventofa
marineemergencyoraccident.SARtasksinclude[18]:
Rescuingpeopleindistressatsea,
Maintaining continuous readiness
to receive and
analysenotifications of life‐threateningsituations,
aswellasincidentsofhazardsandpollutionatsea,
Collaboratingduringsearchandrescueoperations
and hazard and pollution control with other
organizationalunits,
Cooperating with other rescue systems operating
inthecountry,
Cooperating with relevant services
of other
countriesintheimplementationofstatutorytasks.
4.2 WhatdoesaSARunitconsistof?
SARunitsconsistofvarioustypesofrescueunitsthat
aredesignedtoconductrescueoperationsatsea.Each
typeofrescueunithasitsownuniquefunctionsand
capabilitiesthatallowforeffective
rescueoperations.
Rescueunitsusuallyinclude[18]:
Rescue ships‐these are units equipped with
specialized equipment for carrying out rescue
operations at sea. They have large operational
rangesandarecapableofhighspeeds,sotheycan
reachthescenequickly.Rescueshipsareequipped
withspecialcommunicationsystems,
radar,sonar,
as well as water extinguishing agents and
equipmentforliftingpeoplefromthewater.
An example of such a unit is the SAR‐3000 sea
rescuevessel.
Rescue boats‐these are smaller units that allow
youtoquicklyreachthesceneoftheincidentand
tothoroughlysearch
smallseaareas,baysorports.
Rescueboatsareusuallyequippedwithoutboard
motors and specialized equipment to rescue
people from the water. An example of a rescue
boatistheGeminiWave‐rider600typeRIBrescue
boat.
Helicoptersareaerialunits thatenablerapidand
efficient rescue
operations in expansive marine
regions.Theseversatileaircraftareoutfittedwith
advanced radar and communication systems, as
well as rescue equipment such as specialized
hoists, cable winches, and medical transport
systems, among others. One example of such a
helicopter is the Mi‐14PL/R, a heavy‐duty rescue
helicopter.Helicoptersplaya
vitalroleinmaritime
search and rescue operations, providing rapid
responsecapabilitiesandthe ability tocovervast
areasquickly.Theseaircraftareparticularlyuseful
in offshore locations and in situations where
conventional rescue vessels may not be able to
reach the scene of an emergency in time.
Helicoptercrews
arehighlytrainedprofessionals,
well‐versed in the use of specialized equipment
and techniques required for successful rescue
operations. They work closely with other SAR
units,suchascoastguardvesselsandnavalships,
tocoordinatesearchandrescueeffortsandensure
thatallavailableresourcesareutilizedeffectively.
In addition to
their crucial role in emergency
response,helicoptersalsoplayanimportantrolein
conducting surveillance and monitoring
operations,helpingtodetectpotentialhazardsand
prevent accidents before they occur. Equipped
with state‐of‐the‐art technology and manned by
skilledpilotsandtechnicians,theseaerialunitsare
a valuable asset
to any SAR team operating in
marine environments. In conclusion, helicopters
are an indispensable component of modern
maritimesearchandrescueoperations,providing
a vital link between those in distress and the
resources needed to affect a successful rescue.
Through ongoing training, equipment upgrades,
andclosecoordinationwithotherSARunits,
these
aircraftcontinuetoenhancethesafetyandsecurity
of those who work and play in and around the
worldʹsoceans.
Divers‐specialists who are used to carry out
underwater operations in hard‐to‐reach places
such as submerged ships, underwater caves, or
other difficult‐to‐access locations.
Divers are
equipped with diving gear as well as equipment
for conducting rescue operations underwater.
According to information provided by Polish
SearchandRescue(SAR),duetotherarecasesof
diving accidents in Poland, they do not have a
specially designated group of divers on standby.
However, in situations where
a diving accident
occurs, SAR can rely on the services of the fire
brigade, which has specialized equipment for
underwater operations. It should be noted,
however, that the fire brigade operates only in
coastalareas,andintheeventofaccidentsinopen
sea,SARmustrelyonassistancefrom
otherunits
suchastheAirRescueServiceortheNavy.Allof
these rescue units work according to established
procedures and as part of the coordination of
actions between different SAR units. These units
are equipped with specialized equipment and
conduct systematic training, which allows for
quickandeffectiveactions
inrescuesituations.Itis
importanttoemphasizethecrucialrolethatdivers
play in ensuring the safety of individuals who
engageinunderwateractivitiesorthosewhowork
in dangerous underwater environments. Despite
the relatively low frequency of diving accidents,
theconsequencesofsuchincidentscanbesevere,
and
the need for swift and efficient rescue
operationsisparamount.
Therefore, it is essential that all SAR units,
including those that rely on assistance from other
organizations,maintainahighlevelofreadinessand
expertise in carrying out underwater rescue
operations. This includes not only the acquisition of
specialized equipment and
regular training but also
the development of effective communication and
coordinationmechanismsbetweendifferentunits,as
well as the establishment of clear and efficient
protocols for responding to diving accidents. By
workingtogetherandmaintainingaconstantstateof
readiness,SARunitscanensurethattheyareableto
respond
quickly and effectively to any emergency
situation, thus reducing the risk of injury or loss of
life.
4.3 SARoperationcosts
SARoperationcostsinPolandarehighlyvariableand
dependonseveralfactorssuchas thetypeofrescue
unit involved in the operation, the duration of the
335
operation, the amount and type of equipment used,
transportation costs, and many other factors.
Generally,thecostsofsuchoperationsareveryhigh,
and covering them requires multiple sources of
funding[18,20].
In Poland, SAR units are funded from many
sources,includingthestatebudget,EUfunds,private
donations, and funds raised from various charitable
actions.However,the majority of financialresources
comefromthestatebudget.
Within the state budget, various programs and
funds support the activities of SAR units in Poland.
The Justice Fund is worth mentioning, asit finances
thepurchaseofequipmentandgearfor
SARunits,as
well as training and education for rescuers.
Additionally, SAR units in Poland can apply for
grants from the European Fisheries Fund, which
supports activities related to maritime safety and
maritimerescue.
Furthermore, private companies and individuals
also engage in financing SAR units in Poland by
making donations
and organizing various charitable
actions.Oneexample ofsuchactivitiesistheʺNoble
PackageforSailors,ʺwhichraises fundsformaritime
rescue purposes every year. It is also worth noting
thattheactivityofSARunitsinPolandwouldnotbe
possiblewithouttheinvolvementofmanyvolunteers
who perform their
work without remuneration. It is
precisely thanks to their work and dedication that
SAR units in Poland are able to operate effectively
andminimizethecostsoftheiractivities.
Table1.presentsthecostsassociatedwiththeuseofCoastal
RescueStationsandvarioustypesofrescuevesselsfor
providingrescueassistance.
________________________________________________
Vessel/CoastalRescueStation Rate(gross)perhour–PLN
________________________________________________
SAR1500529/710*
SAR30002852/3422*
R30501/601*
CZESLAWII493/591*
KAPITANPOINC 2393/2871*
CoastalRescueStation 683/820*
________________________________________________
*meanstheupperrateofrescueoperationsinaseastate
above5°.
Source:Adoptedfrom[17]
Insummary,thecostsofSARoperationsinPoland
are high, but they can be covered thanksto various
sources of funding, primarily from the national
budget. In addition, the involvement of volunteers
who work without pay and provide an invaluable
contributiontotheactivitiesofPolishSARunitsisof
greatimportance.
4.4 ThepersonnelofaCoastalRescueStation
InthePolishSARsystem,thereshouldbeatleastone
duty rescuer at each maritime rescue station who is
responsiblefor coordinatingthestationʹs actionsand
transmittingalarminformationtootherrescuers.
4.5 Theequipmentandgearof
aSARunit
The equipment and gear of a SAR unit should be
adaptedtotheneedsandconditionsinwhichtheunit
operates, such as weather conditions, type of vessel
beingrescued,ortheindividualinneedofassistance.
The rescue equipment and gear that a SAR unit
shouldhave
includes[18]:
Radios and communication equipment, which
allow for communication with the SAR
coordinatorandotherrescueunits;
Navigational systems, such as radar, GPS, sonar,
andechosounders,whichenablethelocationofthe
vesselindistressandsafenavigation;
Rescue equipment, such as life rafts, life jackets,
rescue boards, life rings, and ropes, which are
necessaryforconductingarescueoperation;
Firefightingequipment,suchasfireextinguishers,
hoses, pumps, and nozzles, which enable the
extinguishingoffiresonboardavessel;
Medical equipment, such as first aid kits,
defibrillators,medicines,andmedicalgear,which
are necessary
for providing medical assistance to
casualties.
5 ACTIVITYOFTHEMARITIMESEARCHAND
RESCUESERVICEINPOLANDIN2022
In 2022, the Maritime Search and Rescue Service in
Poland took part in a total of 352 rescue operations
[18],amongwhichthefollowingstandout:
Humanlife‐savingoperations
atsea–172;
Medicalevacuations–21;
Other operations (Rescue Assistance – RA,
EmergencyMedicalServices‐EMS)–50;
Operationsagainstspillages–19;
Investigationoperations–90.
Table2.NumberofSARoperationsbytypeinquartersof
theyear2022.
________________________________________________
TypeofSARI II III IV
operationquarter quarter quarter quarter
________________________________________________
Life‐savingoperations 15 49 95 13
atsea
Medicalevacuations 1 4 7 9
Otheroperations(RA, 6 16 24 4
EMS)
Operationstocombat 3 8 6 2
spillages
Explanatoryactions 6 28 34 22
________________________________________________
Source:Adoptedfrom[18]
ItcanbenotedinTable.2thatthehighestnumber
ofactionscarriedouttakesplaceinthethirdquarter
of the year, that is the months of July, August and
September.In2022,thePolishSARBranchassisteda
total of 282 people, of whom 139 were rescued who
wereinlife‐threateningdangeratsea.
Table3.NumberofpeoplerescuedbySARinquartersof
theyear2022.
________________________________________________
I II III IV
quarter quarter quarter quarter
________________________________________________
Numberofpeople 15 49 95 13
assisted‐total
Numberofpeople 1 4 7 9
rescuedwhowerein
distressatsea
________________________________________________
Source:Adoptedfrom[18]
336
TheMaritimeSearchandRescueServiceinPoland
has 14 centres and rescue stations. CRS
Wladyslawowo and MSR Kolobrzeg are the two
locations from which the largest number of actions
wereconducted.
Table4.Participationofunitsinrescueoperations‐from
baselocationsinquartersoftheyear2022.
________________________________________________
BaselocationI II III IV
quarter quarter quarter quarter
________________________________________________
MRCCGdynia4 12 6 3
MRSCSwinoujscie 0 2 11 3
CRSTrzebiez0 7 9 1
CRSDziwnow2 9 13 2
CRSKolobrzeg6 17 22 8
CRSDarlowo1 9 16 4
CRSUstka3 12 12 0
CRSLeba3 12 20 1
CRSWladyslawowo 1
16 32 8
CRSGorkiZachodnie 3 9 4 0
CRSHel1 1 12 4
CRSSwibno3 6 16 3
CRSSztutowo2 2 11 0
CRSTolkmicko1 1 3 1
________________________________________________
Source:Adoptedfrom[18]
6 COURSEOFACTION
There are five stages of Search and Rescueʹs
participation in actions at sea [18]. The first is the
standby stage, which consists of maintaining a 24‐
hour readiness to receive distress calls and
informationaboutexistingandlikelylife‐threatening
situationsatseabytheMaritime
RescueCoordination
Centre (MRCC).Therearealwaystwolifeguardson
duty at the MRCC‐an operations officer and an
assistant. The second stage is based on the initial
action after a life‐threatening situation at sea has
occurredorislikelytooccur.Thestageaimsto:
assessingand
qualifyingtheinformationobtained,
deploying the appropriate amount of forces and
resourcestoassistintheaction,
gatheringadditionalinformation,
alertingtherelevantservicesofothercountries,
where necessary, immediately apply the
appropriateactionsfromtheotherstages.
Thethirdstageconsistsofplanningtheaction.The
Operational Supervisor on Duty plans the entire
process of carrying out the action, which includes a
search and rescue plan, including the delivery of
casualtiestoa placeofrefuge oraplaceofqualified
medical assistance, and a SAR Mission Coordinator
(SMC) is appointed. At this stage, the duties
of the
SMC are taken over by the MRCC Duty Operations
Officer. The penultimate‐fourth‐stage is the
executionoftheoperation.Itincludesthedispatchof
predeterminedforcesandresources,theappointment
of a Coordinator at the scene of the action, the
coordinationoftheSARactionandtheinforming
and
further informing of the relevant concerned
authorities, institutions, organisations, persons. The
final stage is to complete the action, recall the units
from the site, restore them to a state of readiness,
completethedocumentationoftheactioncarriedout.
Analysing the report from the search and rescue
actionin
whichthecontainershipNordicItaliasailing
underthePortugueseflagandthecutterDzi‐18from
Dziwnowtookpart,wecanseethatallstagesofthe
actionwerefulfilledintherightorder[19].Originally,
the Maritime Auxiliary Coordination Centre in
Swinoujscie was responsible for the action, but the
entirecommandoftheactionwastakenoverbythe
MaritimeRescueCoordinationCentreinGdynia,due
toamisunderstandingofthesituation.Attheoutsetit
wasknownthat theyachtNorthItalia wasinvolved
in the accident, having been raided by a Dzi‐18, 13
Nmtothe
NofDziwnow.Resourcesweredeployed
tostandbyandpreparetogotosea.After17minutes,
the SAR action was launched. However, after 21
minutestheactionwastakenoverbyMRCCGdynia.
BasedondatafromtheSWIBŻandMarineTraffic,it
wasdeterminedthattheNordicItaliawas
a158‐metre
container ship travelling at 17in. The cutter Dzi‐18
wasrammedbythevesselNordicItalia.At6.20a.m.
the m/v Szkwal unmoored and set out to assist the
casualties. Support was also called in. Upon arrival,
ascertainingdetailsandassistingtheinjuredcrew,the
decision was
taken to evacuate all the cutterʹs crew
and transfer them to the wheel ambulance crew in
Dziwnow.
The MRCC receiving a distress call assumes
responsibility for the incident until the relevant or
other Rescue Coordination Centre takes over. There
shallbenounreasonabledelaysinthecommencement
of SAR action.
Once coordination has been handed
over, the MRCC remains on standby to co‐operate
untilconfirmedinformationisreceivedthatassistance
is no longer required or the action has been
completed.
7 THEIMPACTONTHESAFETYOFTHEBALTIC
SEA
The Polish SAR operates based on the International
Convention
onMaritimeSearchandRescue(SOLAS)
and national regulations, and its task is to provide
effective and professional assistance in the event of
accidents, disasters, and threats at sea. The
fundamentaldutyoftheSARserviceistorescueand
recover individualsin distress at sea, irrespective of
the situation that
led to their peril. The Polish SAR
service is equipped with modern and well‐trained
rescueunitsthatarecapableofswiftlyrespondingto
anyincidentintheBalticSea.Therescuefleetincludes
rescue cutters, helicopters, motorboats, inflatable
boats,andateamofskilledrescuedivers.In2022,the
Maritime Search and Rescue Service (MSPiR)
participated in a total of 352 rescue operations,
providingassistanceto282individuals,139ofwhom
were rescued from immediate life‐threatening
situations. Notably, the third quarter of 2022,
particularly July, August, and September, saw the
highest number of operations conducted. With 14
centresand
rescuestations,thePolishSARserviceis
well‐positionedtocarryoutrescuemissions,withthe
Coastal Rescue Stations in Wladyslawowo and
Kolobrzegundertakingthemajorityofoperations.As
aresult,thiscoordinatedandwell‐equippedmaritime
rescue system plays a vital role in promoting the
safety of those who
work at sea, as well as tourists
andsailorsnavigatingtheBalticSeawaters.
337
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TheStudentSpecialInterestGroupofUnderwaterResearch
“SeaQuest”wouldliketothankthereviewersfortheirkind
evaluations,substantivecommentsandthetimedevotedto
evaluatingourwork. “SeaQuest”is currentlyparticipating
in research project No. SKN/SP/535575/2022 called MUDS
Base–theMobileUnderwaterDivingSupportBasewhich
wassubmitted
aspartofascientificcompetitionorganized
bytheMinistryofScienceandHigherEducationinOctober
2021 as a new initiative: ‘Student Circles Create
Innovations’. Members of “SeaQuest” hope that their new
project will gain extra financial support in this initiative,
whichwillenablethemtocontinuetheirresearch
workon
their new mobile diving base project with flexible diving
bell called Batychron. As a result of the planned research
work in 2023, “SeaQuest” would like to create a mobile
MUDS Base device, which will be widely used in
hydrotechnics for underwater transport and securing
exploratoryandtourist dives while
maintainingthesafety
ofhumanlife.Inaddition,wealsoplantoestablishcontact
withtheGdyniaSearchandRescueServiceinordertolearn
about the specifics of their work and to promote the
importantroleofrescueatsea.
REFERENCES
1.Jurczyński M, Rutkowski G, 2021, Analysis of maritime
accidentsinthecontextofdemandfor MoBMEDSthe
Mobile Base of the Marine Emergency Diving Service.
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