The consortium is formed by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and its subsidiaries: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna and the Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej. The contract is to be implemented between 2025 and 2029, while its value “exceeds PLN 1 billion” (about EUR 230 million). The Polish Ministry of Defence does not provide much detail on the program, which aims to procure a specialized support vessel designed primarily to secure submarine operations with specialized equipment. The purchase of the Ratownik (Eng. Rescuer) is directly linked to another key program for the Polish Navy – the acquisition of new submarines of the Orka-class.
Ratownik tasks will include:
- submarine rescue support,
- seabed warfare / protection of critical undersea infrastructure (CUI),
- support of NATO allied operations in the Baltic Sea region,
- conducting complex rescue operations at sea.
Currently, the Polish Navy has one old submarine – ORP Orzeł – of the Kilo-class. When the Ratownik begins service, this is unlikely to change (unless Poland buys second-hand submarines as so-called gap-fillers). On the other hand, today a very important argument for the purchase of Ratownik is the need to protect CUI. Not so long ago, there have been a number of incidents in the Baltic Sea involving damage to pipelines and cables on the seabed. HMS Belos, a Swedish Navy rescue vessel, is currently assisting Finland in investigating the suspected act of sabotage. The HMS Belos is an ageing ship, and the need for vessels such as Ratownik vessel will no doubt increase to monitor and protect CUI in the Baltic Sea area.
Basic characteristics of the rescue ship Ratownik:
- Overall length – about 96 m,
- Maximum width – about 19 m,
- Displacement max – about 6500 tons,
- Range – about 6000 nautical miles
- Max speed – 16 knots,
- Crew – 100 people + 9 additional specialized personnel.
The project schedule calls for the start of steel cutting in December 2025, the keel laying in February 2026, the launch in 2027 and the handover of the vessel to the Polish Navy in 2029. Ratownik will replace the more than 50-year-old salvage ships ORP Piast and ORP Lech (Project 570). The vessel will become part of the Support Ship Squadron belonging to the 3rd Flotilla of Ships in Gdynia.
Second attempt
The current contract is the second attempt to procure Ratownik. The first contract was signed on the same day – December 27 – but seven years ago. At that time, PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (former Navy Shipyard) was to build a rescue ship for PLN 755 million (about EUR 177 million) ) with a delivery date in late 2022. The contract included an option for a second unit to join the first one in 2024.Its modern-looking design was developed by the MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting bureau. It was given the designation MMC 887R, but the official shipyard designation is Project 570-II. The reference to the design number of the old salvage ships is only sentimental, since 570 and 570-II have nothing in common. However, as a result of escalating program costs, the Ministry of National Defense canceled the order.
As part of the first PGZ Ratownik program, the PGZ Stocznia Wojenna ordered JFD company to design a hybrid hyperbaric system. It was to ensure the safe work of divers at great depths (saturation dives), including underwater works & inspections, and salvage diving. In addition, it contained elements that would allow interoperability with the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS). The ability to use the NSRS ensured the evacuation of the crew of a DISSUB (Distressed Submarine) from a depth of about 610 meters – over the entire operational range in Baltic conditions.
The new Ratownik will use a previously developed design. It will certainly include revisions for the ability to work with ROVs and autonomous systems (AUV and UUV). These will have applications in surveillance and control of CUI.
