Poland signs 1.5 bn zł contract for two new hydrographic ships

On 28 May 2026, the Polish Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdańsk to build two new hydrographic vessels for the navy. The 1.5 billion‑złotys project is financed by the EU Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, of which Poland is the largest beneficiary.

The ships will be about 60 metres long, 13 metres wide, capable of a 5 000‑nautical‑mile range and a maximum speed of roughly 13 knots. Their autonomy is planned for at least 20 days at sea and they will carry a crew of 48, including operators of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. Equipped with advanced echo‑sounders, sonar, magnetometers, and NATO‑compatible data‑exchange systems, they will also feature defensive armament against drones and divers. The new vessels will replace the 44‑year‑old ORP Heweliusz and ORP Arctowski, which have served since 1982.

The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz and government SAFE representative Magdalena Sobkowiak‑Czarnecka, underscoring the project’s significance for Poland’s Baltic security and naval modernization.