During the launching ceremony of the fifth vessel of project 258, the future ORP “Rybitwa”, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and its subsidiaries PGZ Stocznia Wojenna and Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej signed an agreement with Remontowa Shipbuilding regarding cooperation for the export of Kormoran II type vessels.
The agreement was signed at the Remontowa shipyard, where project 258 vessels – Kormoran II type mine destroyers – are being built. The document was signed by: Jan Grabowski, member of the management board of PGZ S.A., Dariusz Jaguszewski, CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., Marcin Ryngwelski, CEO of PGZ Stocznia Wojenna, and Marcin Wiśniewski, CEO of OBR CTM.
Kormorans, or project 258 vessels, represent the largest series of vessels that our industry has been building since the project 207 minesweepers. The scale of our involvement, the scope of competencies, skills, and knowledge that we have acquired as the Polish industry during the implementation of this program is the foundation of today’s agreement. We know that we can do this, we know from the Polish Navy that this is good equipment, and we want other naval forces to also have the opportunity to serve on vessels resulting from Polish shipbuilding expertise, said Jan Grabowski, member of the management board of PGZ S.A.
By delivering advanced electronic systems, communications, and armaments to the Kormorans, PGZ Stocznia Wojenna builds Poland’s maritime security and develops its technological competencies. Cooperation within the consortium opens up the prospect of export expansion, confirming the growing potential of the Polish shipbuilding and defense industry in global markets, said Marcin Ryngwelski, CEO of PGZ Stocznia Wojenna.
For many years, we have been participating in the implementation of Programs for the Maritime Security of the State – one of them is the Kormoran II program. The operation of the prototype vessel ORP KORMORAN allowed for the introduction of modifications in the construction of subsequent units to best meet the needs of the Customer. Today, they are among the most modern vessels in the field of mine warfare. They participate in joint naval exercises of NATO countries, and in the future, they will become one of many vessels of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups. The satisfaction of the User – the Polish Navy – is our best recommendation and encouragement to offer this proven project to other countries, said Dariusz Jaguszewski, CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding.
I am proud that together with our consortium partners, we are writing a new chapter in the history of Polish product sovereignty. Programs such as Kormoran II perfectly demonstrate the potential of the domestic defense industry. Each subsequent vessel allows us to further improve our solutions that strengthen the Polish Armed Forces. It is extremely important that we keep security in our hands. We are open to cooperation with international partners who want to benefit from our innovative solutions and jointly build a safer future, commented the CEO of OBR CTM S.A., Marcin Wiśniewski.
Project 258 vessels, designed to perform a range of mine warfare tasks, including searching, classifying, identifying, and combating sea mines, as well as reconnaissance of waterways, guiding vessels through mine-threatened waters, laying mines, or remotely controlling self-propelled mine countermeasure platforms, also address challenges related to the protection of critical infrastructure, conducting seabed research, and tracking potential threats in this domain.
Currently, the Polish Navy has 3 vessels of this type in service – ORP “Kormoran” (side number 601), ORP “Albatros” (602), and ORP “Mewa” (603), which serve in the 13th Minesweeper Squadron of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla. The second series, consisting of today’s launched ORP “Rybitwa” (605) and its siblings, ORP “Jaskółka” (604) and ORP “Czajka” (606), are to join the 12th Minesweeper Squadron, also part of the 8.FOW structure, which is stationed at the Naval Port of Świnoujście. All Kormorans will be in service by 2027.
