On Tuesday in the Baltic Sea, during the multi-purpose joint maritime operation “MMO Baltic Sea 2024” coordinated by FRONTEX, the officers of the Neringa border checkpoint of the VSAT Coast Guard Border Squad noticed a white yacht drifting about 35 nautical miles (65 km) from the shore while patrolling the ship “Gintaras Žagunis”. Three men standing on her deck waved their hands vigorously, asking for help.
When the border guards arrived, they discovered that a pleasure yacht flying the Danish flag was in a difficult situation. The ship’s engine broke down, and the crew could not use the sails in the calm. The yacht could not return to Klaipėda State Seaport by itself, because it was drifting in the wrong direction. The three 41-42-year-old Lithuanians who were swimming in it did not have adequate means of communication to call for help.
Information about this incident was transferred by the border guards to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center of the Naval Forces. After assessing the situation, for the safety of shipping and people, a decision was made to tow the yacht to the approaches of Klaipėda port. The border guard ship “Gintaras Žagunis” successfully performed this.
Approaching its gate, the captain of the yacht managed to reach the port safely with the help of sails. None of the crew required medical attention. And the VSAT vessel “Gintaras Žagunis” continued patrolling the Baltic Sea.
VSAT patrol ship “Gintaras Žagunis”, which was named during the first post-Independence service in 1991. in the name of the dead Lithuanian border guard, the baptism took place almost two years ago, in November 2022.
The purpose of the coastal patrol vessel “Gintaras Žagunis” is to protect the state border in the territorial sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It can also be used in search and rescue operations in the territorial waters of Lithuania and in the exclusive economic zone.
The ship built by the Estonian company “Baltic Workboats Shipyard” cost almost 3.9 million. euros, of which 90 percent – EU funds. The length of this ship is 25 m, the width of the hull is 6.3 m, the maximum draft is 1.6 m. It is equipped with a 1,930 hp twin-shaft fixed-pitch propeller system. The patrol boat has a speed of over 26 knots, and a deck boat launched from the stern for pursuit can reach speeds of up to 35 knots. The steering mechanism installed in the front of the ship allows it to be safely moored and maintain a stable position while drifting.
“Gintaras Žagunis” can cover more than 500 nautical miles without resupply, and therefore is constantly used in international operations of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency FRONTEX.
The computerized system for monitoring the working mode of the engines helps the crew to constantly monitor the working parameters of the engines, fuel consumption and reserves. The ship has the latest navigation and communication equipment, two radars, an integrated infrared system, and other modern equipment.
“Gintaras Žagunis” with a deck boat can effectively patrol and monitor the territorial and inland waters of the Curonian Lagoon during the day and night. The ship also serves as an aid platform for rescuing people and providing first aid to up to 20 persons in sea waters in Lithuania and in FRONTEX operations. The ship’s wheelhouse is equipped with comfortable workplaces for the crew, the lower deck has comfortable cabins with heating and air conditioning, suitable household conditions have been created.
The vessel can be operated both in near-icing water environments and in extremely high temperatures.
2024-08-22 22:14:28