On January 23, at the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard in Gdańsk a ceremony of keel laying for the future ORP Henryk Zygalski was held. This is another vessel that will strengthen the Polish Navy.

January is exceptionally rich in events related to shipbuilding in Poland. Last week, on January 19, sheet metal cutting took place in connection with the construction of the second project 258 minehunter, the future ORP Rybitwa (605), which will be part of the 12th Minesweeper Squadron of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla. This is also the fourth vessel currently being built at the Gdańsk plant. Laying the keel for the second "Delfin" type ship is the next stage of the project that has been ongoing since November 15 last year, when shipyard works began. Both this and the first vessel of this series, the future ORP Jerzy Różycki (261), will be part of the Reconnaissance Ship Group of the 3rd Ship Flotilla.

During the ceremony, a symbolic keel laying took place. A commemorative medal was welded to the lower section of the hull. This act refers to a custom dating back to ancient times, when coins were placed in a vessel under construction to ensure the happiness of both the ship and its crew. Then, the director of the "Delfin" project Krzysztof Radzikowski, Commander Piotr Skóra, the representative of DNV Paweł Szmigiel and the representative of Saab signed a document confirming this stage of the ship's construction, which was the final act of the entire ceremony.

Let us recall that the agreement on the construction of ships of the "Delfin" program was concluded on November 25, 2022 between the Saab concern and the Armament Agency. On December 15 of the same year, the Swedish company announced that the details of the contract had been finalized, confirming the commencement of preparations for the execution of the order. The MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting office is responsible for the project. The total value of the order is approximately SEK 6.7 billion, i.e. nearly PLN 2.8 billion. The contractor commissioned the construction of fully ready-for-use ships at the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard, as well as the performance of all necessary tests, including a full range of HAT (Harbor Acceptance Trials) and SAT (Sea Acceptance Trials) dock tests. All works related to the construction of both ships take place on the premises of the Gdańsk plant, including those planned to be performed by Swedish specialists. According to preliminary plans, both Dolphins are to enter service in 2027.

Currently, advanced work is underway on the first ship of this series, the future ORP Jerzy Różycki (261). The cutting of sheets for this ships took place on April 27, 2023, and the keel was laid on July 27 of the same year. 200 meters from the place of laying the keel for the future ORP Henryk Zygalski, on the next assembly yard, one could already see the hull of its predecessor, which, although located in blocks, height reaches above the bulkhead deck and it is impossible not to notice it. The launch of the vessel is scheduled for December this year. As emphasized by the commander of the Reconnaissance Ship Group of the 3rd FO, Lt. Commander Marcin Gronek, recruitment and intensive training of future crews is to begin in 2025 and 2026. Moreover, the Polish Navy staff is in close contact with their Swedish counterpart.