We build a large army, we build a strong army, we build a safe Poland. Today, the Navy comes first – said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after signing a contract concerning the program "The Rescuer". The long-awaited rescue ship is expected to be ready for work in 2029. He will supply assistance to military and civilian units in the Baltic.
The ceremony of concluding a contract for the construction of a modern ship, among others, for securing rescue submarines took place on Friday, 27 December, in Academic Centre for Underwater Technologies Naval Academy in Gdynia. Under the paper were signed by Brig-Gen Artur Kuptel, Head of the Armed Forces Agency, and Jan Grabowski from the Management Board of PGZ SA. Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Minister of Defence Paweł Bejda and Jacek Siewara, Head of the National safety Bureau, besides arrived in Gdynia.
– We're signing a contract for a rescue ship.. According to her, sheet cutting should take place within 12 months of the conclusion of the contract. The position of the keel will happen 2 months later. On the another hand, launching was planned for 2027," said the head of the MON. The ship is to be ready for work in 2029.
Production: Jakub Zagalski, Aleksander Kruk / Armed TV
Deputy Minister Bejda reported that the ORP “Satator” is to be nearly 100 m long and 19 m wide, displacement 6500 t and scope 6000 Mm. Rescue crew will have 100 people. There will be a chopper landing ground on board the unit, and the equipment will include submarines, hydrological devices, firefighting devices, etc.
“The ship “Saveman” will service the Navy of Poland, the safety of our sailors and all those operating in the Baltic”, said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish. He added that if needed, the ship would support civilian units. “We will be open to aid everyone who expects specified help,” he assured. The head of the MON stressed that the Polish army is expanding its operational capabilities in the Baltic, due to the fact that the current geopolitical situation requires this. “We request the capacity, the cooperation of the Baltic and Scandinavian states. We request the ability of all those active in safety in the Baltic – the Minister of Defence argued.
Jacek Siewara, on the another hand, recalled that plans to acquisition a rescue ship for the Navy have been spoken for years, but so far no political force has fulfilled the promises made in this matter. And only now, as the head of BBN stated, “after a year of preparatory work carried out by Minister Bejad and the Armed Forces Agency, the contract was signed”.
Today's celebration in Gdynia has besides become an occasion to remember “Orca” programmewhich concerns the acquisition of submarines. Partners to implement this task have not yet been selected, nor is it known erstwhile the first submarines would start flying the white-red flag. But the signing of the contract for the Rattownika is treated by the Ministry of Defence as a signal that the “Orka” is coming. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Polish navy must first have a rescue ship to prepare for the operation of submarines. The ORP “Rescuer” will supply assistance to military and civilian units in the Baltic, but thanks to its specialised equipment it is intended to be a unit in peculiar for securing the rescue operation of submarines.
The captured unit is another ship – after multi-purpose frigates of task 106 (Swordfish) and task 258 mine destroyers (Cormoran II) – strengthening the possible of the Polish Navy. The construction of these ships will be carried out in national shipyards and with the participation of Polish industry.
– We are working on upgrading the Polish armed forces. We feel that the sailors have been undervalued for many years – said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish. He referred to the opinion of any experts and politicians who claimed that "this sphere is not entirely necessary" that Poland "will suffice good air forces", and the Navy operating in the Baltic "does not substance much". – fresh events show how crucial it is to have ships of different abilities – the head of the MON assured. He besides reminded of fresh troops drone, which will start operating from January 2025 in air, land and water domains.
