Rainy summer can be seen in the sea rescue’s statistics

The number of maritime rescue cases this summer was the lowest in eight years – with a 20 percent decrease compared to the average for the years 2018–2022, according to the Swedish Maritime Administration.

Bad weather can be a reason.

This summer, the Swedish Maritime Administration’s maritime and air rescue center handled 543 maritime rescue cases, which is the lowest number since 2015. Even during the summer of 2022, the number of maritime rescue cases was at a significantly lower level, 559, compared to, for example, 2021 and 2020 with 702 and 727 cases respectively.

There are several theories as to what the reduction is due to, according to Mattias Hyllert, director of maritime and air rescue.

“One theory is, of course, the influence of the weather. If many people are out at sea, there will also be more cases, and during the holiday season this year the weather did not directly attract marine life in large parts of the country,” says Hyllert in a press release.

However, the number of air rescue cases has increased slightly since last year, from 237 to 252.

Sea rescue cases as a result of severe weather or exposed location increased from 56 last year to 78 during this summer. However, the most common events were engine failure and grounding.

Approximately two-thirds of all the summer’s maritime rescue cases involved sailboats and motorboats.

FACTS Sea rescue efforts in Sweden

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