During the christening and launch ceremony, a letter of intent was signed regarding cooperation in promoting the Project 258 Kormoran II minehunters on international markets. The letter was signed by representatives of the consortium responsible for building these vessels: Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., PGZ Stocznia Wojenna Sp. z o.o., Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej (OBR CTM) S.A., and the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) S.A. Dariusz Jaguszewski, CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., noted that he also hopes for cooperation with the government in this regard (on March 13 of this year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz presented an offer including minehunters to Lithuania).
258/5 prepared for launch in Dock No. 1 at Remontowa Shipyard / Photos: Przemysław Gurgurewicz, MILMAG
Following the christening ceremony, the ship launch procedure took place. As always, it was carried out using a floating dock, which means the operation is performed in stages and usually takes several hours. The process begins with the gradual submersion of the dock. Once the hull enters the water, a watertightness inspection is conducted to ensure there are no leaks. After verification, the submersion continues until the vessel is fully afloat. It is then towed out of the dock and moved to the shipyard’s outfitting quay.
The moment the traditional champagne bottle was broken against the hull during the christening ceremony
The future ORP Rybitwa is the second of three Project 258 vessels in the second series, intended for the 12th Wolin Minesweeper Division of the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla, stationed in Świnoujście. The contract for their construction, valued at 2.49 billion PLN, was approved by the Minister of National Defence on June 26, 2022. All three ships have been assigned traditional names: Jaskółka (Swallow), Rybitwa (Tern), and Czajka (Lapwing), and are currently at various stages of construction. Work on the new series began on March 28, 2023, with the cutting of the first steel plates for vessel 258/4. This was followed by the keel laying on July 25, 2023, and then the christening and launch on June 26, 2024, during which the vessel was named Jaskółka. It is currently docked at the shipyard outfitting quay.
Godmother of Rybitwa, Maria Teryfter, together with the ship’s commanding officer, Lt Cdr Rafał Duszewski, and the CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding, Dariusz Jaguszewski
The construction of subsequent minehunters is proceeding successively at approximately nine-month intervals. Work on the next vessel, 258/5, began with the cutting of steel plates on January 19, 2024. The keel was laid on March 20 of the same year, and today the vessel was launched and given the name Rybitwa.
The least advanced and final ship of the series, 258/6, has been under construction since October 15, 2024 (first steel cutting), with keel laying taking place on December 16, 2024. The launch of the completed hull is scheduled for December of this year.
According to the timeline, the completion of construction and delivery of the entire series to the contracting authority is planned for July 2026, and March and October 2027, respectively.
The implementation of the Project 258 minehunter construction program began on September 23, 2013, with the signing of a contract for the construction of the prototype vessel 258/1. The flag was raised on the ship, named ORP Kormoran, on November 28, 2017. Less than a month later, on December 27, 2017, a contract was signed for the construction of two series-production vessels. After entering service, the prototype underwent extensive operational and military testing, which provided insights into necessary improvements for the series-production units. These included upgrades to mine countermeasure systems, the onboard combat management system SCOT-M 258, communication and navigation systems, as well as modifications to the propulsion system and ship’s damage control systems. There was also a change in the types of underwater vehicles used—replacing the combination of the Polish Morświn vehicle and the Swedish Saab Double Eagle Mk III with the newer SAAB Double Eagle SAROV model.
The christening and launch ceremony also provided an opportunity to sign a letter of intent regarding cooperation in promoting the Project 258 Kormoran II minehunters on international markets. The agreement was signed by representatives of the consortium responsible for building these vessels: Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., PGZ Stocznia Wojenna Sp. z o.o., Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej (OBR CTM) S.A., and the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) S.A.
In August 2020, a decision was also made to equip the series-production vessels with the originally planned OSU-35K naval weapon system, featuring the 35 mm AM-35K naval gun. This system replaced the ZU-23-2MR Wróbel II 23 mm naval gun installed on ORP Kormoran. The series-production ships were also outfitted with the Kraken KATFISH 180 towed sonar system, along with its deployment and retrieval system.
Currently, ORP Kormoran is undergoing maintenance, during which it will also be partially upgraded to match the standard of the series-production vessels. The most noticeable difference will be the retention of the ZU-23-2MR Wróbel II 23 mm gun.
Po blisko 2 godzinach od uroczystości chrztu kadłub okrętu po raz pierwszy zetknął się z wodą
Currently, three Project 258 vessels are in active service: ORP Kormoran (601), ORP Albatros (602), and ORP Mewa (603) (Polish for “Gull”). All are stationed in Gdynia as part of the 13th Minesweeper Squadron named after Fleet Admiral Andrzej Karweta, which operates under the Świnoujście-based 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla. The series-production vessels entered service within a few months of each other: the flag was first raised on ORP Albatros on November 28, 2022, and a similar ceremony was held for ORP Mewa on February 14, 2023. The current contract for three additional vessels marks the third and final order for Project 258 minehunters intended for the Polish Navy. By the end of 2027, the Navy is expected to operate a total of six such ships, with three vessels assigned to each of the two minehunter squadrons based at opposite ends of the Polish coastline—in Gdynia and Świnoujście.
After another hour and a half, the hull was fully afloat, and the process of towing it out of the dock began with the assistance of the tug Nosorożec G-01
The series-produced Project 258 Kormoran II minehunters are designed to detect and neutralize naval mines in the waters of the Baltic and North Seas. With a standard displacement of approximately 850 tons, the vessels have a maximum length of 58.5 meters, a beam of 10.3 meters, and a design draft of 2.7 meters. The crew consists of 45 personnel on the first-series ships and 48 on the three currently under construction.
To carry out their core missions, the vessels are equipped with a wide range of tools. Mine detection is performed using the SHL-101/TM hull-mounted sonar and a variety of sonars deployed by unmanned underwater vehicles: the HISAS 1032 carried by the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Kongsberg Hugin 1000, and the EdgeTech 2205 side-scan sonar operated by the autonomous Teledyne Marine Gavia. These systems are complemented by the Kraken Robotics Katfish-180 towed side-scan sonar. This sonar is not a permanent fixture on the vessels; two units have been purchased—one for each minehunter squadron. When needed, the sonar, together with the ALARS (Autonomous Launch and Recovery System), is mounted on the aft deck along the port side.
Rybitwa being towed to the outfitting quay…
The following systems are used to neutralize detected mines: the SAAB Double Eagle SAROV (Semi-Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle), which can carry Toczek A explosive charges weighing 48 kg (with 40 kg of explosive material) or Toczek B charges weighing 10 kg (including 6 kg of explosive material), as well as Głuptak remotely operated self-propelled explosive charges (single-use underwater vehicles). These systems enable mine destruction at depths ranging from 3 to 200 meters, up to 400 meters from the launch point when operating in currents up to 2 m/s, and with a theoretical maximum range of 1500 meters in currents of 0–0.2 m/s.
Recently, this set of tools has been supplemented with a new remotely operated underwater vehicle—Ocean Modules V8 M500—used for final identification of previously detected mine-like objects, as well as for transporting Toczek explosive charges. Mines can also be destroyed using charges placed by clearance divers. To support their operations, the vessel is equipped with a hyperbaric chamber for up to six people and Sportis S-6200ID hybrid boats for transport.
…where it moored alongside Jaskółka, already berthed there.
The artillery armament consists of a 35 mm AM-35K naval gun, which is part of the OSU-35K naval weapon system. It is designed to engage both surface and aerial targets. It is complemented by three 12.7 mm WKM-Bm heavy machine guns manufactured by ZMT Tarnów, mounted on the bridge wings on both port and starboard sides, as well as on the stern.
In addition to the gun, the ships’ air defense is supported by portable Grom/Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS).
