A new boat for the Maritime Search and Rescue Service (MSPiR) has been launched in Świnoujście and will soon begin service at the SAR station in Trzebież, the service’s director, Sebastian Kluska, has announced. SAR 1501 Morka was built in Sweden and arrived at the MSPiR base in Świnoujście by road. It is the second specialised rescue boat to have joined the Polish SAR fleet recently.

Morka is equipped with modern control systems and two engines, each rated at 650 hp. The 15-metre boat has a shallow draught and a high top speed of up to 30 knots, or around 55 km/h. It is one of two vessels ordered for SAR from Swedish shipyard Swede Ship Marine. The second, due to be handed over at the turn of 2026 and 2027, will be named Poryw.

“These multipurpose rescue boats are intended for search-and-rescue operations on the Vistula Lagoon and the Szczecin Lagoon, as well as in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. Their primary task will be to conduct SAR operations, including searching for people and objects, evacuating people from the water, vessels and rescue craft, transporting casualties, providing pre-medical assistance and cooperating with rescue helicopters,” the Polish Register of Shipping said.

The vessels feature composite hulls, an elastically mounted, sound-insulated wheelhouse, advanced navigation and communications systems, medical equipment, facilities for transporting casualties on stretchers, towing capability for smaller craft, firefighting equipment, and a rescue water scooter/platform. The latter is particularly useful in locations that are difficult for a larger boat to reach. Morka and Poryw will replace the ageing R-17-class vessels. Morka will enter service as the replacement for Huragan.

In August, we reported on the launch of another rescue boat for SAR: Polish SAR Receives New Rescue Boat Sponsored by Orlen

Photo: Sebastian Kluska, commander of the Polish SAR/X