Fewer maritime rescue incidents during summer 2026
News 2026-09-17
The number of maritime rescue incidents decreased during summer 2026 compared with the previous year. From June to August, the Swedish Maritime Administration’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre handled 560 maritime rescue incidents, compared with 607 during the same period in 2025. This represents a decrease of nearly eight percent.
The Swedish Maritime Administration’s summary of the summer rescue season shows that the number of maritime rescue incidents decreased this year following last year’s increase. A total of 560 maritime rescue incidents were handled in June, July and August 2026, 47 fewer than in summer 2025. Viewed over a longer period, this year’s figure is also well below the highest levels recorded over the past ten years.
“It is positive to see fewer maritime rescue incidents this year. At the same time, we know that the need for assistance at sea can arise very quickly. That is why it is important for anyone heading out on the water to wear a life jacket, keep track of the weather forecast and have a way to raise the alarm if something happens,” says Mattias Hyllert, Director of Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue at the Swedish Maritime Administration.
Recreational boats remain the most common vessels involved
Motorboats and sailing boats were the most common types of vessels involved in maritime rescue incidents. The most common causes were engine and propeller failures, followed by groundings and situations involving severe weather or other exposed conditions. The statistics also show that several causes may be recorded for the same incident.
Most incidents in Västra Götaland and Stockholm
Västra Götaland recorded the highest number of maritime rescue incidents during the summer, with 161 cases, followed by Stockholm with 127 and Skåne with 54. In Västra Götaland, the number was slightly above the average for the summers of 2023–2025, while Stockholm and Skåne were slightly below average.
More aeronautical rescue incidents during the summer
The trend in aeronautical search and rescue moved in the opposite direction. Between June and August 2026, 284 aeronautical rescue incidents were handled, compared with 227 during the same period in 2025. This represents an increase of 57 incidents, or around 25 percent. This year’s figure is also the highest recorded during the ten-year period covered by the report, 2017–2026.
“We are seeing a clear increase in the number of aeronautical rescue incidents compared with last summer. However, more incidents do not necessarily mean that more serious accidents have occurred. A large proportion involve situations where we need to take action because there is uncertainty surrounding an aircraft. We take every alert extremely seriously,” says Mattias Hyllert.
By type of flight, general aviation, including aerial work, was the largest category. The most common cause of aeronautical rescue incidents was an unclosed flight plan — in other words, failing to notify the airport after landing — accounting for 179 incidents.
