The nautical breakdown service SeaHelp is continuing to expand its service network in Croatia: On 1 June 2026, a new operational base was officially opened on the island of Dugi Otok. This strengthens SeaHelp’s presence in one of the most attractive yet nautically demanding cruising areas of the Croatian Adriatic.
Dugi Otok (“Long Island”) lies off the coast of North Dalmatia to the west of Zadar and has long been regarded by leisure skippers as one of Croatia’s most rewarding cruising grounds. The island combines sheltered bays with open sea, spectacular cliff coastlines in the Telašćica Nature Park, and close proximity to the Kornati National Park. During the peak season in particular, the high density of charter and private boats in this area creates a growing need for fast technical assistance and maritime support.
The new SeaHelp rescue boat was handed over to the crew at Žman on 15 June 2026. The future base commander had already undergone intensive preparation for his new role in May 2026 as part of a multi-stage training programme – beginning with training at the SeaHelp operations centre in Punat, followed by further technical and operational instruction in Zadar at the time of the boat handover.
The new base’s operational area now extends from the island of Molat deep into the Kornati archipelago, covering a stretch that sees particularly heavy traffic both on day trips and longer passages.
A newly built Mer Vista 660 RIB with an aluminium hull and a 150 hp outboard engine, purpose-built for the demands of this cruising area
The vessel deployed is a newly built Mer Vista 660 RIB, purpose-built for the demands of this cruising area. The boat features a robust aluminium hull, measures 6.60 metres in length and 2.50 metres in beam, and is powered by a high-performance Yamaha outboard engine with 150 hp. The aluminium construction keeps overall weight comparatively low – an advantage that not only increases agility in operation but can also significantly reduce fuel consumption. At the same time, the design allows for robust, low-maintenance use in day-to-day service.
Alongside the commissioning on Dugi Otok, further adjustments were also made within the SeaHelp fleet: The Šolta base received a Technomarine RIB – a sister vessel to the model already deployed in Punat. The Axopar rescue boat previously stationed at Šolta was relocated to the Pula base as part of the fleet optimisation.
The practical, free SeaHelp App can be used to locate SeaHelp bases, report emergencies directly, transmit positions and coordinate rescue operations more quickly
SeaHelp is also once again drawing the attention of members and water sports enthusiasts to the SeaHelp App. The application not only makes it easy to locate SeaHelp bases – it also allows emergencies to be reported directly, positions to be transmitted, and rescue operations to be coordinated more swiftly. This is a particular advantage in expansive island cruising grounds such as North Dalmatia.
With this new location, SeaHelp is pressing ahead with the expansion of its operational readiness in Croatia and significantly reducing response times in one of the Adriatic’s most popular water sports destinations.
24h EMERGENCY EUROPE: 0043 50 43 112
In an emergency, SeaHelp’s rescue boats can be reached via the practical SeaHelp App, or by calling the free European emergency number 0043 50 43 112 (alternatively, the European emergency number 00385 919 112 112 can also be used).
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