11 sierpnia 2025 r. Polska wzięła udział w debacie otwartej Rady Bezpieczeństwa ONZ nt. bezpieczeństwa morskiego.

Tekst wystąpienia wygłoszonego przez Krzysztofa Szczerskiego, Stałego Przedstawiciela RP przy NZ w Nowym Jorku, dostępny jest poniżej.

Thank you, Mr. President,

I would like to thank the Panama Presidency for convening this relevant debate and the briefers for their insightful presentations. This debate is particularly timely after the adoption of the Declaration at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (by more than 170 countries).

The threats to maritime security seriously hamper international peace and security and pose the profound, detrimental effects of damaging critical undersea infrastructure. Upholding the international maritime security is a multifaceted task, which calls for the strengthening the on-site activities, enforcing legal frameworks and  improving infrastructure and resilience.

Poland expresses its readiness to actively participate in international efforts to strengthen the maritime security in line with the international law and the UNCLOS as the main guiding principle and the true “constitution for the oceans”.

Mr. President,

The calls to build the maritime security and environmental resilience resonate well in Poland and other the Baltic Sea region countries – this area has been heavily affected by Russian aggression against Ukraine. Russia has used the so called "shadow fleet" to circumvent sanctions and gain assets to finance its military operations in Ukraine.  The “shadow fleet” vessels was lacking proper insurance and clear ownership. They were used in hybrid warfare and sabotage – acting as the spy ships for Russian-inspired operations against the underwater cables. The "shadow fleet" was a low-cost but effective instrument for Russia to destabilize commercial maritime activities, disregarding maritime law and posing a significant risk of ecological disaster in the Baltic Sea ecosystem (the Baltic Sea Particularly Sensitive Sea Area recognized IMO).

It is in the international community's interest to put an end to the illegal activities of the “shadow fleet” and thoroughly investigate them. New regulatory measures are necessary to ensure effective control of ships and address the problem of “unflagged tankers” operating outside the jurisdiction of the UNCLOS.

The existing legal frameworks: the law of the sea, the maritime law and the international law more broadly should be respected and applied in the current challenging security environment. The coordinated global action with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) -  the key body responsible for the maritime regulatory framework is essential and indispensable.

Poland will stay committed to develop the effective tools that enhance maritime security which is of the utmost importance. The security (including maritime security) was the Polish priority in the Presidency in the EU Council. It is also the priority of the Polish Presidency in the Council of the Baltic Sea States – assumed in July this year.

I thank you.