Search Concludes Without Recovery After Passenger Overboard Incident in Baltic Sea – December 28, 2025

Introduction
An international maritime search operation in the Baltic Sea ended without recovery after a passenger went overboard from the Polish ropax ferry Skania near Sassnitz, off Germany’s Rügen Island. The incident occurred on December 28, 2025, during a scheduled crossing between Sweden and Poland.

Details of the Incident

Man-Overboard Alert:

• The ferry Skania (IMO 9086588), operated by Unity Line, was sailing from Ystad, Sweden to Świnoujście, Poland.
• A man-overboard (MOB) alert was issued after a witness reported seeing a passenger enter the water.
• The individual was identified as a Polish national; the circumstances of the overboard remain unclear and under investigation.

International Search Operation:

• Search and rescue efforts began at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time.
• Authorities from Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden coordinated sea and air assets across the search area off Sassnitz.
• Poland’s Maritime Search and Rescue Service dispatched a helicopter from Darłowo, but it did not reach the scene before the search was terminated.
• Another Unity Line vessel, Polonia, operating nearby, joined the search efforts.

Weather and Termination of Search:

• Sea conditions were reported as unfavourable, with deteriorating weather following a recent storm.
• Reduced visibility and rough conditions significantly hampered search effectiveness.
• Authorities confirmed the operation was formally concluded at 6:21 p.m. after several hours without results.

Aftermath:

• Following the conclusion of the search and an operational delay, Skania resumed its voyage and arrived in Świnoujście without the missing passenger.
• The ferry has capacity for approximately 1,400 passengers, 260 cars, and 50 freight vehicles.
• The incident remains under review by maritime and investigative authorities in the involved jurisdictions.