Around dusk, a nine-person drift boat drifted offshore without life jackets or distress flares. Here is how authorities located the vessel last week: a Civil Guard unit and the Red Cross found a motorboat adrift off the coast, suffering engine trouble and lacking a way to call for help. Nine passengers were rescued and brought to the port in stable condition. The incident served as a reminder that mariners must equip vessels with proper safety gear and signaling devices before setting out to sea.
The maritime emergency occurred at 6:30 p.m. on September 27. The Civil Guard and Red Cross received a report describing a nine-passenger boat adrift amid rough sea conditions, which heightened the danger for everyone on board.
A moment of recovery before El Pinet beach, in Elche, after the operation.
The Civil Guard’s Oja River patrol boat and the Red Cross unit based in Santa Pola, known as LS-Naos de Salvamento Marítimo, responded to the scene and located a Polish-flagged boat. On board were seven men and two women, all of Polish nationality except for one Spanish man.
Rescuers observed that some passengers were anxious as water began to flood the vessel due to sea conditions, while the engine started and stopped intermittently. The worsening weather complicated the captain’s return to port as the sea state shifted rapidly.
In total, nine people were saved and the boat was towed to the Santa Pola harbor. After all passengers disembarked, officials confirmed the craft carried only four life jackets, short of the recommended one jacket per passenger, and it did not carry distress flares. In coastal navigation, three signaling flares are typically required to summon help when needed.
Following the operation, the Civil Guard notified the boat’s owner about the observed safety deficiencies on board. The escalation prompted the Alicante Sea Captain to be informed. The incident underscores the importance of wearing approved life jackets at all times and carrying the necessary signaling devices to issue distress calls when needed. It also highlights how careful voyage planning and awareness of sea state changes can help sailors avoid being caught off guard by sudden weather shifts.
Experts emphasize that routine checks of safety equipment, clear crew instructions, and compliant load capacity reduce risk on short coastal trips. Operators are urged to conduct pre-departure safety briefings and ensure every passenger understands the locations and proper use of life jackets and signaling gear. When forecasts indicate poor conditions, postponing departures becomes a prudent choice, protecting lives and property at sea.[Citation: Civil Guard and Red Cross operation report]