POLSCA sets sail on the Baltic. A new era for Polish ferry shipping. Programme “Batory” in progress

Polish ferry shipping is entering a new chapter. Unity Line has unveiled the first of its new ferries under the POLSCA brand – Jantar Unity. The vessel has been built as part of the “Batory” Programme, with construction carried out at Gdańsk Shiprepair Yard (Remontowa Shipbuilding SA).

Kamil Kusier executive editor 27.08.2025, 16:40 Reading time: 2 min

The POLSCA ferry marked LNG Hybrid Green Ship leaves port escorted by tugboats at dusk — fot. Arkadiusz Marchewka

In brief

Unity Line has presented the ferry Jantar Unity, the first vessel of the new POLSCA brand, built at Gdańska Stocznia Remontowa under the Batory programme. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka announced that the government has allocated PLN 1.3 billion for the construction of new ferries for Polish shipowners, and the first ferry will enter service later this year. The ferries, based on LNG Hybrid Green Ship technology, are being built under a contract of 26 November 2021 for three vessels for the company Polskie Promy.

The new ferries, designed as LNG Hybrid Green Ships, are expected to deliver lower emissions, improved energy efficiency, and at the same time guarantee passenger comfort and navigational safety. Their entry into service will mark another step towards building a modern, competitive fleet that will strengthen Poland’s position in the Baltic ferry market.

– The government has allocated PLN 1.3 billion for the construction of new ferries for Polish operators. These are the first visible results of our work. POLSCA is entering the Baltic – a new fleet and a new brand linking Poland with Scandinavia. The first ferry will enter into service later this year – said Arkadiusz Marchewka, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure.

Programme “Batory” – rebuilding Poland’s shipbuilding industry

On 4 November 2023, activities were launched under the “Batory” Programme, a key element of the national strategic project “Modern Products of the Shipbuilding Industry”. This initiative is part of the “Reindustrialisation” pillar of the Strategy for Responsible Development (SOR), adopted by the Council of Ministers on 14 February 2017.

The programme focuses on four key pillars:

construction of passenger–car ferries for Polish operators,
support for the development and implementation of advanced shipbuilding technologies,
construction of modular offshore platforms,
creation of a Green Shipyard in Poland.

– The launching of the first ro-pax ferry is a symbol of the rebirth of Poland’s shipbuilding industry. It proves our capability to build modern, innovative vessels that will serve as a source of pride for Polish operators and contribute to the country’s economic growth – said Marek Gróbarczyk, then Deputy Minister of Infrastructure.

The new POLSCA fleet fits seamlessly into this framework, combining advanced technologies with the ambition to rebuild Poland’s position in the Baltic shipbuilding and ferry sectors.

The ferries are being constructed under a contract signed on 26 November 2021, under which Remontowa Shipbuilding SA will deliver three vessels for Polskie Promy, a company co-owned by the Polish State Treasury and Polska Żegluga Morska (Polish Steamship Company). Two of the ferries will join the fleet of Polska Żegluga Morska, while the third will be operated by Polska Żegluga Bałtycka (Polferries).

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier