Abandoned Swedish ship drifts near the Polish coast

The incident occurred while the ship was in Danish waters, and although a Polish Navy helicopter assisted in the rescue operation, it was the Danish authorities who were primarily involved.

The crew was safely evacuated to a Danish frigate, and no injuries were reported. The ship is now adrift and is being monitored by passing vessels as well as two dispatched aircraft.

The information about the drifting vessel Sofia was initially reported via Kontakt24, and later confirmed by Rafał Goeck, the press officer for the Maritime Search and Rescue Service.

"The Danes informed us yesterday at 21:20 that a fire had broken out. The vessel started taking on water, and they began the rescue operation. We, as Poland, offered assistance to the Danes and were asked to dispatch a helicopter. No one from the crew was injured. After the evacuation, the ship was left without any sailors onboard," Goeck explained.

Currently, Sofia is drifting at a speed of 1.2 knots, approximately 32 nautical miles off the Polish coast near Koszalin.

Two Polish vessels, the multi-purpose rescue tug Kapitan Poinc and the tug H8 from the 3rd Ship Flotilla of the Polish Navy, are currently en route to the drifting Swedish ship, which is located between Ustka and Darłowo. According to reports, the vessels are expected to reach Sofia by approximately 6 p.m. today.

As part of the ongoing monitoring operation, Sofia is being watched by the captains of passing ships, as well as by Polish and German aircraft, which are keeping an eye on the situation, particularly regarding any potential environmental hazards. The Polish maritime rescue units have been dispatched to handle oil spills, firefighting, and towing operations if necessary. Currently, the ship poses no immediate threat to maritime navigation, and the Polish Hydrographic Office has issued navigational warnings to ensure safe passage for other vessels in the area.

The cause of the fire and the damages on board the Swedish vessel Sofia remain unclear. However, it has been confirmed that the ship's owner has ordered a tugboat from Rostock, Germany, to assist in securing and towing the damaged vessel. The final decision regarding whether the ship will be towed to the nearest port or directly to a shipyard for repairs will be made by the shipowner.

At the time of the incident, strong winds were reported over the Baltic Sea, ranging from 5 to 7 on the Beaufort scale (indicating wind speeds of up to 17.1 m/s, or about 65 km/h), which likely contributed to the severity of the situation.

Sofia, a cargo ship flying the Swedish flag, was built in 1986 and measures 71.84 meters in length. It had been in Ustka on November 28, carrying a cargo of aggregate.