On November 26, 2025, a ceremony was held at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna to mark the start of construction of a rescue ship for the Polish Navy. The symbolic cutting of the first sheet of metal marks the start of the physical construction of the vessel, which will strengthen the rescue capabilities of the Polish Navy and its ability to protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
The contract for the construction of the rescue ship, carried out by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa together with PGZ Stocznia Wojenna and the Research and Development Center of the Maritime Technology Center, was concluded with the Armament Agency in December 2024. The contract is worth over PLN 1 billion, and the project is scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2029.
“The start of the physical construction of the Ratownik is the next stage in the implementation of the strategic modernization program of the Polish Navy. This vessel will be the most modern rescue ship in the Baltic Sea, equipped with advanced underwater rescue and critical infrastructure protection systems. The construction of Ratownik is also proof of the growing competence of PGZ companies in the implementation of the most demanding shipbuilding projects,” said Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the Management Board of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa.
“Today’s steel-cutting ceremony marks the beginning of a crucial phase of the project. The PGZ Stocznia Wojenna team is drawing on the experience gained during the construction of the Miecznik frigates. Ratownik will replace vessels that have been in service for over 50 years and will provide the Polish Navy with operational capabilities commensurate with contemporary maritime security challenges. The implementation of this program confirms the Shipyard’s readiness to carry out several advanced shipbuilding projects simultaneously,” said Marcin Ryngwelski, President of the Management Board of PGZ Stocznia Wojenna.
About the Ratownik program
The Ratownik rescue ship, acquired as part of the technical modernization program of the Polish Armed Forces, is a specialized support vessel designed primarily to provide rescue support for submarine operations. The vessel will be equipped with advanced rescue systems and technologies enabling the protection of undersea infrastructure. The acquisition of Ratownik is directly linked to the Orka program – the purchase of new-type submarines for the Polish Navy.
Ratownik is another program, following the multi-purpose Miecznik frigates and Kormoran II mine destroyers, to acquire surface vessels for the Polish Navy, carried out in domestic shipyards with the participation of the Polish defense industry, including companies from the Polish Armaments Group.
Basic parameters of the Ratownik rescue ship:
– total length: approx. 96 m;
– maximum width: approx. 19 m;
– maximum displacement: approx. 6,500 t;
– range: approx. 6,000 nautical miles;
– maximum speed: 16 knots;
– crew: 100 people + 9 additional personnel.
The project schedule envisages the keel laying in February 2026, launching in 2027, and delivery to the Polish Navy in 2029.
