# Baltic maritime search and rescue vessel procurement

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/baltic-maritime-search-and-rescue-vessel-procurement
> Updated: 2026-11-02T23:18:32.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

Recent developments in the Baltic region involve new contracts for search and rescue (SAR) vessels. 

Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with the Lithuanian Navy to provide a Pollution Incident Response and SAR vessel based on the OPV 6711 platform. This project, funded by approximately 50 million euros, aims to replace the aging vessel ‘Šakiai’ to enhance maritime security and pollution response in the Baltic Sea. 

Following a public procurement process led by the Environmental Projects Management Agency under Lithuania’s Ministry of Environment, the contract was signed in Vilnius on October 29, 2026. The 67.3-meter vessel will feature a FiFi 1 firefighting system, DP1 dynamic positioning, and an ice-class 1D hull with a Sea Axe bow for improved seakeeping. It is designed to accommodate up to 50 survivors with an onboard medical treatment facility and includes a helicopter deck suitable for aircraft such as the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk to support medical evacuations. The ship is expected to arrive by 2029.

Separately, the Saaremaa shipyard Baltic Workboats secured a 40 million euro contract with the Danish Ministry of Defence. The agreement covers the construction of five 26-meter PATROL 26 WP UltraSAR vessels for the Danish Coastal Rescue Service. These ships are designed for extreme weather conditions, featuring water-penetrating hulls and separate engine rooms to ensure stability in high storm waves. Deliveries are expected to begin within 14 months.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-02: Damen Shipyards to build SAR vessel for Lithuanian Navy

Damen Shipyards will build a new pollution response and search and rescue vessel for the Lithuanian Navy to enhance maritime security and emergency capabilities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/damen-shipyards-to-build-sar-vessel-for-lithuanian-navy

### 2026-11-02: Baltic Workboats secures 40 million euro contract with Denmark

Estonian shipyard Baltic Workboats will build five 26-meter search and rescue vessels for the Danish Ministry of Defence in a contract valued at nearly 40 million euros.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baltic-workboats-secures-40-million-euro-contract-with-denmark

### 2026-10-29: Damen Shipyards Group wins Lithuanian Navy contract for SAR vessel

Damen Shipyards Group will build a new search and rescue and pollution response vessel for the Lithuanian Navy to replace the aging ‘Šakiai’, with delivery expected by 2029.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lithuania-orders-50-million-rescue-vessel-from-damen-workboats

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Cite as: Baltic maritime search and rescue vessel procurement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/baltic-maritime-search-and-rescue-vessel-procurement