The year 2026 will be even more intense for PGZ Stocznia Wojenna than 2025 – emphasized the company's president, Marcin Ryngwelski, in an interview with PAP. Among the most important events he mentioned: launching of the Ratownik rescue ship and commencement of work on the third ship in the “Miecznik” program – Hurricane.
Ryngwelski noted that 2025 was an intense and successful year for PGZ Stocznia Wojenna – all “key milestones” set for this year were achieved.
– In May, we had sheet metal cutting for the second frigate “Miecznik” – Burza, and in December we laid the keel for it. This shows that the “Miecznik” program is systematically progressing according to schedule. Wicher, the first frigate, is growing in our Hull Hall – the hull is already at an advanced stage of assembly – he said.
The “Miecznik” program is currently the largest modernization program of the Polish Navy. Its goal is to build three modern multi-role frigates, which will become the basic combat force of the Polish fleet, replacing the obsolete Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships.
The president of PGZ SW added that in November last year together with the Remontowa Shipbuilding SA shipyard, the leader of the consortium building Kormoran II minehunters – the War Shipyard handed over another minehunter, ORP Jaskółka, to the Navy. In the same month, the first sheets of steel for the Ratownik ship were cut, worth over PLN 1 billion.
When asked about the current stage of implementation of the “Miecznik” program, Marcin Ryngwelski pointed out that the construction of the first frigate – ORP Wicher – is already at an advanced stage. Currently, intensive assembly works are underway in the Hull Hall. According to the schedule, the launching of the unit is scheduled for the second half of 2026, and its handover to the Navy in 2029.
– Burza – the second frigate – already has its keel laid, and in parallel we are producing subsequent hull sections. Let me remind you that we are implementing the program together with Babcock and the entire consortium of partners – Thales, MBDA – with whom the cooperation is going well – he assured.
The breakthrough moments in 2026 included: commencement of work on the third frigate from the “Miecznik” program – Hurricane, as well as the launching of ORP Wicher in the second half of this year.
– We will complete the entire program by the end of 2031. So, Gale in 2029, Storm in 2030, and Hurricane in 2031. These are not empty declarations – the schedule is real and we will do everything to keep it – he emphasized.
He also recalled that in November last year A ceremony of cutting sheet metal for the most modern rescue ship in the Baltic Sea took place – measuring 96 m long and having 6.5 thousand m2. tons of displacement ORP Ratownik.
– It will replace units that have been in service for over 50 years – ORP Piast and ORP Lech. We have planned to lay the keel on February 4, 2026. Then the launch – we expect it to take place in August or September 2026. The entire program is scheduled to be finalized in 2029 – then we will hand over the ship to the Navy, Ryngwelski said.
The PAP interlocutor also emphasized that 2026 will be even more intense for the company than 2025.
– Further strengthening of the team will also be key. We need good welders, fitters and engineers. We continue cooperation with technical schools and universities. We also do not forget about modernizations and renovations for the Navy. We participate in the “Kormoran II” program and modernize the units. We are transforming into a new-build shipyard, but we are not giving up on what we have been doing for the fleet for years, he assured.
In his opinion, the Polish shipbuilding industry is experiencing a renaissance. – Today we have four large shipyards in Poland with a full order portfolio for the coming years. This is a huge change compared to a few years ago, when the Naval Shipyard – the legal predecessor of PGZ Stocznia Wojenna – was under the control of a trustee – he said.
He also added that the situation changed mainly because the Navy was finally appreciated.
– The Baltic Sea has finally been noticed as a strategic reservoir for the country's security. Critical infrastructure – Naftoport, Gazoport, wind farms, pipelines – all of this requires protection. Today, 100 percent of Poland's crude oil comes to Gdańsk. This is a completely different situation than before with the Druzhba pipeline. The Navy has become crucial for state security and investments have followed, Ryngwelski said.
The president of PGZ SW also emphasized that the biggest problem in the shipbuilding industry is staffing, as there have been no orders for ships for 30 years. – This has created a huge gap in shipyard staffing and it will take years to reverse it. This cannot be done overnight. As soon as the first wind farms were ordered, everything started to move – polytechnics and universities started educating specialists – he pointed out.
In this context, he talked about cooperation with technicians, with the Naval Academy, and the launch of a special field of study “Technological Support for Ship Construction”. – But we will only reap the fruits of these activities in a few years – said Ryngwelski.
The main problem is high prices of energy, materials and steel. – This is a challenge for all shipyards in Europe. And we must also remember to continue the trend of replacing worn-out Navy equipment with new ones. Before the Miecznik program ends, it will be necessary to think about further programs. Otherwise, we will lose the competences we are building now. And their reconstruction will take years to come and the costs will be huge, he said.
PGZ Stocznia Wojenna is the oldest Polish shipyard operating since 1922. The company continues the tradition of the Naval Shipyard and the Naval Port Workshops established before World War II in Puck and then moved to Gdynia.
Dariusz Sokolnik (PAP)
dsok/mok/
