Historic refit of Dar Młodzieży carried out in Szczecin by Net Marine Group

The project marks an important milestone both for the vessel itself and for the Polish ship repair sector, highlighting the growing role of Szczecin-based facilities in handling technically demanding and high-profile refit projects.

Class refit under classification society supervision

Commissioned in 1982, Dar Młodzieży remains one of the most recognisable sail training ships in Europe. Like all ocean-going vessels, it is subject to periodic class surveys and refits required to maintain certification and seaworthiness. The current works form part of a planned class renewal programme conducted under the supervision of the Polish Register of Shipping (PRS).

The scope of the refit includes:

• inspection and maintenance of the underwater hull,
• steel works and anti-corrosion treatment,
• coating and painting operations,
• inspection of onboard technical systems,
• selected works on standing and running rigging,
• verification of safety-related equipment and installations.

Carrying out such a refit on a traditional sail training ship requires a combination of conventional ship repair expertise and specialist knowledge related to sailing vessels and training platforms.

First refit outside the Tri-City area

Historically, all major refits of Dar Młodzieży were carried out in Gdańsk or Gdynia. The decision to move the vessel to Szczecin reflects both the availability of suitable dock infrastructure and the technical capabilities developed by Net Marine Group in recent years.

Pomerania Shipyard offers dock facilities and workshops capable of accommodating large and non-standard vessels, allowing multiple disciplines to be coordinated within a single repair window. For the Szczecin maritime cluster, the project represents a high-visibility confirmation of its ability to compete for complex refit contracts traditionally associated with the Tri-City region.

Expertise over location

Industry observers note that in the case of heritage and training vessels, technical competence and experience often outweigh geographical considerations. Unlike standard commercial tonnage, sail training ships combine modern marine systems with traditional structures, extensive rigging and strict requirements related to safety, training functionality and representational standards.

Dar Młodzieży serves not only as a training platform but also as a flagship of Polish maritime education and a regular participant in international tall ship events. Maintaining both technical compliance and the vessel’s historic character is therefore a critical element of the refit process.

Importance for maritime education

For decades, Dar Młodzieży has played a central role in the practical training of future deck officers and maritime professionals. Hands-on seamanship training under sail remains an essential component of maritime education, providing skills and experience that cannot be fully replicated through simulators alone.

Ensuring the vessel’s continued operational readiness directly supports the long-term quality of maritime education in Poland and the supply of qualified officers to the international shipping industry.

A signal to the ship repair market

The refit of Dar Młodzieży in Szczecin sends a clear signal to the regional ship repair market. It demonstrates that Polish yards outside the traditional shipbuilding centres are increasingly capable of delivering projects requiring high technical standards, classification compliance and precise scheduling.

As competition intensifies and dock availability becomes more constrained across Europe, the ability of yards such as those operated by Net Marine Group to handle specialised vessels is becoming an increasingly valuable asset.

Preparing for the next training season

The refit is expected to be completed after several weeks in dock, followed by class inspections and acceptance procedures. Upon completion, Dar Młodzieży will return to Gdynia to resume her training schedule and international sailing programme.

For Net Marine Group and the Szczecin ship repair sector, the project represents not only a technical undertaking, but also a symbolic confirmation of their position on the map of advanced maritime refit capabilities.