The end of a quiet era. Polish Navy harbour tugs in transition

In late March, a decommissioning ceremony marked by the final lowering of the ensign took place at the Naval Port in Świnoujście, bringing to a close the service of the harbour tug H-6, a Project H-960 unit. While concerning a single auxiliary vessel, the event reflects a broader and ongoing transition within the Polish Navy-the gradual withdrawal of legacy harbour tugs and their replacement by a new generation of more capable platforms.

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01 april 2026   |   07:51   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. 8FOW / Marynarka Wojenna RP

The backbone of port operations

Harbour tugs remain an indispensable component of naval infrastructure, forming the backbone of daily port operations. Their responsibilities extend across a wide spectrum of support tasks:

• close-in manoeuvring assistance for naval vessels in ports and anchorages
• towing operations between bases and within operational areas
• technical support for exercises, including live-fire training
• participation in rescue and firefighting operations
• maintaining port operability during winter conditions, including icebreaking

Operating in confined waters and often in close proximity to large naval units, tug crews must combine precision handling with reliability and rapid response capability. In this environment, performance is measured not in combat metrics, but in consistency and operational readiness.

H-6 and the H-960 generation

The H-6 belonged to the H-960 class of harbour tugs, constructed in the early 1990s at Stocznia Remontowa Nauta. Over more than three decades of service, the vessel fulfilled the full range of duties expected of this type.

Units of this generation were characterized by:

• multi-role capability in harbour and roadstead operations
• suitability for towing and basic salvage tasks
• limited personnel transport capacity over short distances
• the ability to operate in ice conditions

The longevity of H-6 underscores both the durability of the design and the sustained operational demand for this class of vessel within naval structures.

A new generation of naval tugs

In recent years, the Polish Navy has introduced a new generation of harbour tugs into service, marking a significant step in the modernization of its auxiliary fleet. These include H-1 Gniewko, H-2 Mieszko and H-3 Leszko, currently operating within the 3rd Ship Flotilla, as well as H-11 Bolko, H-12 Semko and H-13 Przemko, assigned to the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla.

Together, these units represent a comprehensive renewal of the Navy’s port and logistics support capabilities. Designed with greater bollard pull, improved manoeuvrability and modern navigation and control systems, they are better suited to the demands of contemporary naval operations.

As a result, the new tugs have assumed the majority of tasks previously carried out by older-generation vessels, ensuring higher operational efficiency, enhanced safety during port manoeuvres and more reliable support for both routine activities and complex naval operations.

Transition without visibility

The decommissioning of H-6 should be viewed within the broader framework of fleet rationalization and capability development within the Polish Navy. While auxiliary units rarely attract public attention, their role remains fundamental to sustaining operational readiness.

In accordance with naval tradition, the vessel’s ensign will be preserved at the Polish Navy Museum, while the hull itself will be transferred to the Military Property Agency for further disposition.

The withdrawal of H-6 does not merely mark the end of a single vessel’s service life, but rather illustrates an ongoing generational shift within the Polish Navy’s auxiliary fleet.

Harbour tugs—despite their low visibility—remain critical enablers of naval operations, directly influencing the efficiency, safety and continuity of port activities.

The transition from H-960-class units to modern platforms such as the H-1 and H-11 series confirms that naval modernization extends beyond combat assets, encompassing also the essential, if often overlooked, domain of operational support.

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Marynarka Wojenna RP holowniki portowe H-6 holownik modernizacja floty jednostki pomocnicze

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