Maritime rescue operations in German and Polish waters

Maritime rescue operations involving German and Polish authorities have been conducted in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions.

In late July 2026, rescue services responded to two incidents off the island of Norderney. The first involved the successful rescue of a Polish sailor after his sailboat capsized on a sandbank. Shortly after, an extensive search involving helicopters, drones, and thermal-imaging equipment was launched to locate individuals in a rubber boat reported leaving the beach, though the operation concluded without finding anyone.

In early August 2026, two medical-related maritime emergencies occurred in the Baltic Sea. Near Ustka, a worker on an offshore wind farm vessel required urgent evacuation via the rescue ship ‘Orkan’ and a Navy helicopter due to serious injury concerns. Additionally, east of Rügen, a yacht required medical assistance for severe seasickness. Despite Beaufort scale 5 winds and 2.5-meter waves, a medical team was deployed to the yacht via the rescue vessel ‘Notarius’ after helicopter landing proved impossible.