Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A., together with its daughter companies PGZ Stocznia Wojenna and Ośrodek Badawczo – Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej, concluded a contract with the Armament Agency for the delivery of a rescue ship for the Polish Navy.
The contract conclusion ceremony took place on the grounds of the Naval Academy in Gdynia. In the presence of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, the contract was signed by Jan Grabowski, Member of the Management Board representing the Polish Armaments Group and Brigadier General Artur Kuptel, Head of the Armament Agency, representing the ordering party. The contract will be executede in the years 2025 – 2029, and its value exceeds PLN 1 billion.
– Today’s agreement is another milestone for our maritime area. The implementation of the “Ratownik” programme will allow us to improve all those skills, technologies and knowledge that we are acquiring and engaging in the already ongoing construction of three multi-role frigates for the “Miecznik” programme.” The cooperation between the Polish Navy and the domestic shipbuilding and armaments industry in the course of the Technical Modernisation Plan is a generational opportunity for our companies, in which we aim to acquire competencies for both surface and submarine vessels in order to be able to support the maritime security efforts of both the Republic of Poland and our allies ,’ said Jan Grabowski, member of the PGZ S.A. Management Board, in his speech.
– ‘On behalf of the PGZ Stocznia Wojenna team, I would like to confirm our commitment to the Polish Navy: our team of specialists is fully prepared to carry out this investment combining state-of-the-art technologies with our many years of experience. For us, the implementation of the ‘Ratownik’ programme is part of our mission to build Poland’s maritime security by providing it with state-of-the-art vessels. We are convinced that this project will prove the highest competence of the Polish shipbuilding industry in the implementation of even the most advanced projects for the Polish Armed Forces – said Marcin Ryngwelski, CEO of PGZ STOCZNIA Wojenna.
The ship, which is being procured to meet the operational requirements of the Polish Armed Forces listed in the technical modernisation programme called Ratownik is a specialised support vessel, designed primarily for the rescue of operational submarine activities with specialised equipment. The acquisition of this unit is directly related to another key project for the development of the Polish Navy: “Orka” – the acquisition of submarines of a new type.
“Ratownik” is another programme of acquiring surface vessels for the Polish Navy, after the multi-purpose frigates of design no. 106 (Miecznik) and mine destroyers of design no. 258 (Kormoran II), executed in Polish shipyards and with the participation of Polish industry.
Basic parameters of the Ratownik rescue ship:
- Overall length – approx. 96 m,
- Maximum breadth – approx. 19 m,
- Maximum displacement (including auxiliary equipment and plating) – approx. 6500 thous. t,
- Range – approx. 6000,000 nautical miles,
- Max speed – 16 knots,
- Crew – 100 persons + 9 additional personnel.
Steel cutting for this vessel is planned in 12 months from the conclusion of the contract, the keel laying will take place 2 months later and the launch is expected in 2027. The completion of the Ratownik programme programme is scheduled for 2029.
