The authoritative position of the keel under the ship of the kind Rescue was held present in Gdynia. This is the actual beginning of the construction of the unit, which in the close future will supply support to, among others, crews of fresh submarines. "Satnik" is created in the PGZ War Shipyard with the participation of respective twelve Polish companies.
A minute of focus, and then falling off the spark stage. The shipbuilder, with the aid of a welding machine, attaches a commemorative coin and plaque with the names of the president, the Prime Minister, the head of the MON, the naval inspector, and the most crucial information of that day – this is February 4, 2026. PGZ War Shipyard a keel has been laid for the construction of the ship of the "Rescuer" project.
This is how the tradition of hundreds of years came to an end. The navel is simply a construction axis on which the skeleton of a floating vessel is based – in this case the ship. – According to the guidelines of the Polish registry of Ships, its weight must correspond to 5% of the weight of the full hull. However, it must not be little than 50 t – explains Marcin Ryngwelski, president of the Gdynia shipyard. The real construction begins with the position of the keel. From then on, the ship will take form all week. It won't be just a ship. We are building a modern ship that will be a lock and support for ‘Orca’ programme. And most importantly for me: this is simply a 100% Polish method thought – Ryngwelski emphasizes.
In a akin tone, another people who are active in the task are speaking. "As the Minister of National Defence, I have consistently worked towards the modernisation of the Navy. And today's celebration is an event of peculiar importance for this process" – noted Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in a commemorative list. In his opinion, the “Rescuer” proves that the Polish defence manufacture has the capacity to effectively integrate into strengthening the possible of the marine forces. ‘This vessel is simply a specialised support unit, key to securing the operation of submarines [...]. It will become 1 of the most crucial elements of the strategy ensuring the safety of our sailors and the real strengthening of the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland" - emphasised the Deputy Prime Minister.
This is peculiarly crucial in the context of the increase in tension in the region. “The Baltic is simply a space of intensive navigation, military activity, full of critical infrastructure that requires security,” says Jarosław Ziemański, naval inspector at the General Command of Armed Forces. Under specified conditions as he says, the state must have the ability to respond rapidly to all kinds of events. – Having your own specialised rescue unit means being able to act immediately on orders – without hold and without dependence on external entities – notes.
"The lifeguard" in its class will be the largest and most versatile ship always owned by the Polish Navy. It will be utilized to assist crews of sunk submarines, divers who have suffered an accident while carrying out their tasks, or victims of mass disasters at sea. From its deck you will be able to conduct deep water diving, extinguish fires of another units, but besides monitor underwater infrastructure. The ship's buoyancy was calculated at 6500 t, in turn the maximum scope on 1 tank at 6000 Mm. The hull dimension will be close to 100, and the width to 20 m. The permanent crew of the Ratitnik will include 100 officers, enlisted officers and sailors. On the ship, 9 additional people will besides be able to be deployed temporarily, specified as specialists who will aid with their current tasks. The deck will be equipped with a chopper landing ground, and this solution will facilitate the evacuation of the injured. This will be achieved by a variety of equipment from the highest planet shelf – sonars, submarines, hyperbaric chambers. At the end of last year PGZ War Shipyard signed contract to supply the complex of the latter. The strategy produced by the British company James Fisher and sons PLC is compatible with the NSRS's NATO submarine, which is utilized to lift sailors to the surface from damaged submarines. Thanks to the solutions utilized on the Rescue Unit, they will be able to decision straight from batiscafu to the chambers and thus avoid the hazard of decompression disease.
The contract for the construction of Ratownika was signed in late December 2024.. 11 months later on the site of the PGZ War Shipyard in Gdynia was held solemn sheet cutting. If the shipowners manage to keep a agenda of work, the ship should be launched next year and, in 2029, transferred to the Navy. "The lifeguard" will be stationed in Gdynia. It'll be part of the 3 Fleet Ships. It will yet replace Piast rescue ships that entered service in the 1970 ’ s. In addition to these, the navy has 2 smaller rescue units – boats ORP “Zbyszko” and ORP “Maćko”. To any degree they can besides be assisted by task 860 tugs.
The construction of the Ratownika is of large importance in the context of Poland's planned acquisition of 3 fresh submarines. At the end of last year, the Ministry of Defence decided to get units produced in Sweden A26 Blekinge.
