National Maritime Security Forum in Warsaw

The first one in a series of conferences dedicated to plans, equipment, technologies and solutions for maritime defence – National Maritime Security Forum 2016 – was held in January 14th, 2016, in Warsaw.

National Maritime Security Forum was a one-day event in the form of a conference and an accompanying exhibition, the aim being to promote the role and importance of the Polish Navy, not only in strictly combat operations, but also in the diverse tasks that the Polish Navy is given in times of peace, asymmetric conflict and, finally, in what is referred to as hybrid warfare.

The subject matter of the National Maritime Security Forum 2016 included a presentation of the first results of work on a draft of Poland’s National Maritime Security Strategy, progress in the plans for the technical modernization of the Polish Navy, and the capacity of Polish industry and its international cooperating partners for naval vessel maintenance, modernization and construction.

The modernization program of the Polish Navy was presented by the head of the Armament Inspectorate, brigadier general Adam Duda. He stated that the program involves “acquiring more than thirty ships of various classes, with varying degrees of complexity, starting with supporting units, technical units through patrol, coastal defence, ending perhaps with the most complex weapons systems, which is a new type of submarine.”

One of the sessions entitled “Technical Modernization of the Polish Navy – technologies for realization of implemented concepts (Operational Programme – Countering Threats at Sea)” was intended for the industry representatives introducing technologies, which are applied or will be applied in the modern Navy.

The President of the Board of Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej SA (OBR CTM SA) dr Andrzej Kilian gave a lecture on modern technologies, produced in the institution, that he manages. He pointed out, that mentioned above technologies are applied i.a. in the systems delivered to the Polish Navy by CTM, which are used to fight threats to the maritime security including: asymmetric threats, mine threats and for assisting of the action in range of sea search and rescue etc.

During the exhibition accompanying the Forum, there were presented the latest achievements of OBR CTM SA in range of mine detection, classification and neutralization, developed within cooperation of the European Defence Agency and the North Atlantic Alliance.

Poland’s shipbuilding sector was represented by Remontowa Holding capital group. Andrzej Wojtkiewicz, CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding provided a presentation of Remontowa Holding capital group, with particular emphasis on military production. “In our 70-year history, we have built more than 400 warships of varied classes” – he said. “In our group we run a fully featured design and engineering office, employing more than 200 engineers and designers.”

“The Kormoran minehunter, under construction at our yard, was designed precisely in this design office, so were the fuel tanker / replenishment vessel, logistics ship, rescue ship or tugboats, the construction of which we also offer, while participating in the technical dialogue” – Wojtkiewicz added. “The ship was launched in September 2015. During the coming summer sea trials begin and in November we expect delivery of the vessel to the Polish Navy” – said Andrzej Wojtkiewicz.

There were also other participants from the industry representing such companies as i.a.: Kongsberg, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Thales, DCNS, Wartsila France SAS as well as Polish firms WASKO, PIT – Radwar, KenBIT, taking active part in the Forum.