Construction of Polish Navy rescue ship “Ratownik” begins in Gdynia

The ship is being built by a consortium comprising PGZ S.A., PGZ Naval Shipyard, and the Research and Development Center for Maritime Technology (OBR CTM S.A.) under a contract signed with the Armament Agency in December 2024. The programme exceeds PLN 1 billion in value, with delivery scheduled for 2029.

A strategic step in Poland’s maritime security

PGZ S.A. CEO Adam Leszkiewicz highlighted the project’s significance for Poland’s industrial capacity:

- We are expanding our competencies and infrastructure. Ratownik will stand as proof of our efficiency. Step by step, we are building the capability of Poland’s maritime industry to take part in future programmes such as Orka.

Marcin Ryngwelski, CEO of PGZ Naval Shipyard, emphasized the broader strategic importance:

- The Ratownik programme is not only a new chapter in maritime rescue but a long-term foundation for Poland’s maritime security. It is also an integral element of what will soon follow under the Orka submarine programme.

Industrial momentum and national capability

Poland’s Deputy Minister of State Assets, Konrad Gołota, underscored the rapid development of the domestic shipbuilding sector:

- Today’s steel-cutting for Ratownik is an important moment for the Polish shipbuilding industry. We are genuinely rebuilding its potential. Other navies will look with envy at this new vessel.

In a letter read during the ceremony, Head of the National Security Bureau (BBN) Sławomir Cenckiewicz pointed to the symbolic dimension of the programme:

- The Polish flag that will one day fly on Ratownik will symbolize not only our state’s commitment to the safety of those serving at sea, but also its broader care for Poland’s maritime interests.

PGZ Management Board Vice President Jan Grabowski praised the shipyard workforce:

- It is thanks to you — shipbuilders and employees of PGZ Naval Shipyard — that we can celebrate a day like today. The pace we achieved from contract signing to steel-cutting is impressive and demonstrates how far the shipyard has advanced.

Member of Parliament for the Pomeranian region, Wioleta Tomczak, highlighted the value of domestic supply chains, noting that steel for the project is sourced from Huta Częstochowa — a point seen as strengthening national industrial resilience.

Advanced rescue capability for the Baltic

The Ratownik will provide specialized support for submarine operations and deep-water rescue missions. Its role includes:

• submarine rescue and diver support,
• deployment of advanced underwater rescue systems,
• safeguarding of subsea critical infrastructure, including pipelines and cables.

The vessel is directly linked to Poland’s Orka programme, which will introduce a new class of submarines to the Polish Navy.

Key specifications

• Length: ~96 m
• Beam: ~19 m
• Displacement: ~6,500 tonnes
• Range: ~6,000 nm
• Max speed: 16 knots
• Crew: 100 + 9 additional specialists

Programme timeline

• February 2026: keel laying
• 2027: launch
• 2029: delivery to the Polish Navy

A pillar of Poland’s naval modernization

The Ratownik programme joins the Miecznik frigates and Kormoran II mine countermeasure vessels as part of Poland’s broad-scale naval modernization, demonstrating the domestic industry’s ability to manage multiple high-complexity projects in parallel.