Polish Register of Shipping oversees construction of next-generation rescue vessel Ratownik

Comprehensive oversight from design to trials

As the classification body supervising the project, PRS is responsible for reviewing technical documentation, monitoring construction and outfitting, and attending both shipyard and sea trials. The vessel’s mission profile – combining underwater intervention, medical support, and rescue operations – demands exceptional reliability.
PRS oversight ensures the vessel complies not only with Polish naval requirements but also with international standards applicable to complex rescue and diving-support platforms.

Purpose-built for underwater and submarine rescue operations

The Ratownik is being equipped with state-of-the-art diving systems, submarine crew evacuation technologies, and extensive onboard medical facilities. Its capabilities will allow the Polish Navy to conduct deep-water rescue missions, support training exercises, and protect critical subsea infrastructure.

Once completed, the vessel will represent a transformative upgrade to Poland’s ability to respond to submarine emergencies – a capability increasingly important in the Baltic region, where multiple NATO navies operate submarines and underwater installations.

PRS continues to expand its naval portfolio

The project highlights the growing role of the Polish Register of Shipping in Europe’s naval shipbuilding sector. The institution has previously supported the construction of several key Polish Navy vessels, including the Ślązak patrol ship, a series of harbor tugboats, and the Kormoran II class minehunters.
Its track record demonstrates both technical competence and the ability to support complex defense-industry programs.

Strategic importance for regional security

Beyond its national significance, the Ratownik will contribute to NATO’s broader underwater safety framework. With modern rescue assets in short supply across Europe, the vessel strengthens the alliance’s capacity to respond to submarine incidents and undersea infrastructure threats.

For Poland, the project also represents an important stimulus for the domestic shipbuilding sector, reinforcing its position as a producer of specialized naval units.

As construction advances under PRS supervision, Ratownik is emerging as a key asset that will elevate Poland’s role in maritime rescue, subsea operations, and regional maritime security.