The SeaHelp Annual Review 2022

SeaHelp, the leading organisation providing breakdown assistance and other services for European recreational boating on the water since 2005, draws a positive conclusion.

Even in the third Corona season in 2022, all-round protection for skippers and crew was in great demand.

Whether it is towing or starting assistance, fuel service, spare parts deliveries, towing free in the event of slight contact with the ground, freeing lines in the propeller, passenger transport, weather and area advice or telephone support in medical emergencies - SeaHelp's nautical breakdown service was once again available to its members this season with reliable and quick advice and assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"Our annual evaluation for Croatia for the year 2022 - as of November 15 - showed that the number of missions this year was more than five percent (5,89%) higher than in the previous year," says Sea-Help operations manager Marko Orlic, "compared to the first Corona year of 2020, we were even able to record an increase in the number of missions carried out by 39 percent."

This underlines the importance of a modern breakdown assistance service for recreational boating in the popular Adriatic country of Croatia, says Marko Orlic.

Specifically, in the current '22 season, towing yachts accounted for the largest share of breakdown assistance on the water, with 57 percent (previous year: 63) of the operations. Compared to 2021, there was even an increase of three percent in tows in Croatian waters.

There was also a disproportionate increase in the demand for spare parts supplied with boats. Compared to 2021, this service was requested 85 percent more often. SeaHelp Managing Director Wolfgang Dauser cited a backlog of service requests as the reason.

In the last two Corona years, the boats and yachts were not used as often as usual, so spare parts such as impellers, V-belts, thermostats and relays had to be organized and delivered more often than usual due to increased technical problems on board.

The number of operations for assistance in cases of minor grounding (plus five percent) and problems with the power supply on board (plus 18 percent) also increased.

In contrast, assistance with fuel deliveries was not requested as often as last year (minus 18 percent), and "fire on board" and medical transport operations also saw a decline of 50 and 64 percent respectively compared to the same period in 2021.

Regarding Italy, like Croatia an important area of ​​operation for SeaHelp, an increase in the number of operations (plus 12 percent) was recorded; a significant increase was seen, for example, in assistance in cases of minor grounding (doubling compared to 2021), in the resolution of technical problems (tripling increase) and in situations where customers had run out of fuel and therefore sought SeaHelp's help (plus 200 percent).

The number of missions carried out throughout Europe (particularly Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Germany) increased by almost three percent (+3,06 percent) compared to the same period last year.

In relation to the first Corona season of 2020, which was associated with many restrictions, the increase in the number of deployments was almost 85 percent (+84,99 percent).

SeaHelp Managing Director Wolfgang Dauser, who himself spent seven weeks in Croatian waters by boat this year, is satisfied with the deployment figures presented for the 2022 season, which is now coming to an end.

He says: "The number of missions carried out and the type of assistance provided once again impressively demonstrate the importance of our modern, always ready European breakdown assistance service on the water."

This was not changed by the fact that, in his opinion, the weather was the “third worst summer of the last 20 years” with more than 20 thunderstorms, 15 rainy days and comparatively cool water temperatures, said Dauser.

On the contrary: the Bora in August, which blew almost continuously for three weeks, with winds of over 40 knots and waves of two metres in some places, led to an increase in accidents on the water, which required salvage or towing, and many skippers and their yachts were accompanied for safety reasons.

© Photos: sea-help.eu