The construction of the ORP “The Rescue” began. The ship will aid crews of military and civilian units in the Baltic, in peculiar submarines from the “Orka” programme. “In the face of the expanding hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea, the fresh unit will strengthen our capabilities to defend critical maritime infrastructure,” says Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The first sheet burning is simply a symbolic event, marking the beginning of the construction of a fresh ship in the shipbuilding hall. On the ground present PGZ War Shipyard in Gdynia representatives of the shipbuilding industry, Polish Armed Forces Group and the Polish Navy participated in specified a ceremony dedicated to the construction of a future unit from Rescue programme (B-108).
– Today, starting the construction process, we are at an advanced phase in the implementation of the Rescue programme. The method task is ready, we make a work task – said Marcin Ryngwelski, president of the Polish Naval Shipyard. He added that as early as February 2026 the position of the keel would take place. “We are planning to launch for the second half of 2027, and the transfer to the Navy will take place at the end of 2029”, announced the president.
During the ceremony, a letter of Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz was read, who stated that today's celebration is an crucial minute in the past of the Polish Navy. “We will inaugurate the construction of the unit, which will become an essential component of the operational safety system”, wrote the head of the MON.
As the Minister recalled, in the coming years, the Navy will besides be enriched with multi-tasking fregates of the “Meaner” programme, another mine destroyers “Kormoran II” and radio-electronic designation ships “Delfin”. "The built-up rescue vessel is simply a strategical complement to these capabilities, providing the anticipation of conducting comprehensive rescue operations and supporting the operational activities of submarines," said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The contract for the construction of the ORP “Rescuer” was signed on 27 December 2024 in Academic Centre for Underwater Technologies Naval Academy in Gdynia. The fresh ship is expected to replace the Polish Navy for more than half a century with the ORP “Lech” and ORP “Piast”.
The lifeguard will be nearly 100 m long and 19 m wide, 6500 t displacement and 6000 Mm range. The crew of the ship will have 100 people. There will be a chopper landing ground on board the unit, including submarines, hydrological and firefighting equipment.
The ORP “Rescue” will supply assistance to military and civilian units in the Baltic, but thanks to its specialised equipment it is intended to be a unit in peculiar to safe the rescue operations of submarines from ‘Orca’ programme.
