ABSTRACT
Dredging, like all maritime activities in communist Poland, was the responsibility of a state run organisation for the three major international ports of Gdansk, Gdynia and Szczecin-Swinoujscie. Help from Soviet salvage groups dealt with the initial problems followed by intensive work by Polish divers raising wrecks. The Polish Ship Salvage Company by 1976, operated 14 salvage vessels along Polish coast, in addition to their own tugs and three port authorities of Gdynia, Gdansk and Szczecin-Swinoujscie which fulfilled role of second line of salvage. By 1985, 14 salvage vessels were located at the 12 salvage stations on the Polish coast, eight coastal rescue stations were operated, plus a helicopter and a number of tugs from commercial ports were available for their use. Rescue co-ordination centres continued their work from Swinoujscie and Gdynia. The Polish Ship Salvage Company played a classic role in state maritime activity under communism.
