The unusually long interval between the christening and the actual launching was due to adverse weather conditions, which forced the launch procedure to be postponed (Christening of the intelligence ship Henryk Zygalski – the second unit of Project 107 Delfin).
Henryk Zygalski during final preparations for departure from the dock / Photos: Przemysław Gurgurewicz, MILMAG
At present, both Project 107 vessels under construction are already afloat. From this point on, they will remain alongside the shipyard quay, where outfitting work will continue. Once this phase is completed, technical trials will begin, first harbor acceptance trials at the shipyard, followed by sea trials. After the successful completion of these tests, both vessels will be handed over to the customer. According to the current schedule, delivery is planned by the end of 2027 for the first unit, Jerzy Różycki (261), and in 2028 for the newly launched Henryk Zygalski (264).
After the dock was submerged to allow the vessel to gain buoyancy, it was towed out with the assistance of the tug Argo, operated by the Gdańsk-based WUŻ Port and Maritime Service
As a result, in 2028 the Reconnaissance Ships Group, part of the 3rd Ship Flotilla, will be equipped with two modern electronic intelligence (SIGINT) vessels. This will enable the start of the decommissioning process for the two currently operated Project 863 ships: ORP Nawigator (262) and ORP Hydrograf (263). A generational change within the Polish Navy’s reconnaissance forces is long overdue, as both vessels currently in service will have accumulated more than 50 years of service by the time their successors enter service. The ensign was raised aboard ORP Nawigator on 17 February 1975, and aboard ORP Hydrograf on 8 May 1976.
Henryk Zygalski leaves the dock
The new reconnaissance vessels were designed by the Gdynia-based design office MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting. The design, designated Project 107, is a development of Project 104, on the basis of which the reconnaissance vessel HMS Artemis was built for Sweden. Technical data for the Polish vessels have not been disclosed; however, the Swedish prototype, with a full displacement of approximately 2,300 tonnes, has a length of 74.6 meters, a beam of 14 meters, and a draft of 3.8 meters.
The relocation tow to the vessel’s designated berth also involved the pusher tug Nosorożec-G01.
The mission of the new vessels will be to collect comprehensive information on an adversary’s activities in the electromagnetic spectrum by intercepting and analyzing all types of radio signals, both those emitted by communications systems and other electromagnetic emitters, such as radars. Compared with the legacy ships of this class, the new units will provide significantly improved integration of collected data and more advanced post-processing and analysis capabilities.
W ostatniej fazie dołączył do nich Nosorożec-G-02
The contract for the construction of two new reconnaissance vessels under the Delfin program was signed on 25 November 2022 between the Armament Agency and Saab Kockums. The disclosed value of the agreement amounted to approximately 620 million EUR, which at the exchange rate at the time equaled about 2.9 billion EUR. The contract covers the design, construction, delivery, and in-service support of the vessels. Saab designated the Gdańsk-based shipyard Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. as the prime contractor, responsible for building the completed ships and conducting all shipyard trials, both harbor (alongside) and sea trials. The Swedish side is fully responsible for the delivery of the specialized reconnaissance equipment and for its integration aboard the vessels.
Coordination of pusher tugs and a tugboat during the maneuver of bringing Henryk Zygalski alongside her sister ship, Jerzy Różycki.
Construction of the first vessel, Project 107/1, began with the steel-cutting ceremony on 27 April 2023. After three months, on 27 July 2023, the keel was laid, and on 1 July 2025 the ship was launched and christened, receiving the name Jerzy Różycki. The vessel was also assigned the pennant number 261.
Both Project 107 Delfin vessels moored side by side at the shipyard quay.
Steel cutting for the second unit, Project 107/2, took place on 15 November 2023. The keel-laying ceremony was held on 23 January 2024, and yesterday, 14 January 2026, the ship was christened and received the name Henryk Zygalski. Today, the vessel was successfully launched and is now afloat.
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