Gdynia-based CRIST S.A. shipyard has announced that it has begun construction of the bow block for the third frigate under the “Miecznik” programme, the future ORP Huragan. The keel for the vessel is due to be laid at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna later this year. Launching is scheduled for 2028.

In line with the schedule, on 5 October, steel cutting was carried out for the hull section that will eventually form the bow of the multi-purpose frigate. The shipyard emphasises that this is its contribution to the project, which is the largest undertaking in the history of the Polish Navy and the domestic shipbuilding industry to date.

Once construction of the block is completed, it will be transported through the port channel to PGZ Stocznia Wojenna, where it will be joined to the hull of the frigate being built there. A similar process was followed for the bow block of the future ORP Wicher, which was launched in August this year. The exceptional transport of the hull section took place in December last year.

Read more: “Miecznik” takes shape. Hull of the frigate under construction leaves CRIST for PGZ Stocznia Wojenna

Let us recall that the technical specifications and dimensions of the bow block transported at the time were 61.95 metres in length, 16.28 metres in height and 18.8 metres in hull breadth. The structure weighed 810.5 tonnes.

The “Miecznik” programme involves the construction of three multi-purpose frigates, the future ORP Wicher, ORP Burza and ORP Huragan. They are due to be delivered to the customer from 2029 onwards. They will form part of the 3rd Flotilla of Ships’ Destroyer Squadron.

The project is being carried out by the PGZ-Miecznik Consortium, comprising Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna sp. z o.o. The subcontractors include Gdynia-based Remontowa Nauta shipyard and CRIST S.A., which are responsible for supplying ship hull blocks. The strategic foreign partners are Babcock, Thales UK and MBDA UK.

This is how the hull block of the future ORP Wicher was transported:

Photo: GospodarkaMorska.pl