Remontowa Shipbuilding delivered MCMV Kormoran to Polish Navy
On November 17, 2017, the first new MCMV (mine countermeasure vessel or mine-hunter) to be delivered under the name of ORP Kormoran, departed Remontowa Shipbuilding yard and the port of Gdansk for its permanent base in Gdynia, marking delivery to Polish Navy. The ceremonial keel laying for the construction of the unit was held on September 23, 2014, and on September 4, 2015 – the ceremony of christening and launching of the Polish Navy’s new generation mine countermeasure vessel Kormoran (first unit in “Kormoran II” class), one of the most technologically advanced naval ships in Europe, was held. The godmother of the ship was Mrs Maria Jolanta Karweta, wife of admiral Andrzej Karweta, former commander of the Polish Navy.
It is worth emphasizing that the new minehunter is created in line with a completely Polish design, in a Polish, private facility, financed by 100% of the Polish capital. Meanwhile, a series of investment initiatives was executed making it possible for the Remontowa Shipbuilding to construct mine-hunters, including the air-conditioned prefabrication hall which is required to work with the special purpose objects and with special materials. Secondly, a 300- tonnes gantry crane, along with a new production line, with the latter element making it possible to mass-produce ships have also been created. The elements listed above may be highly useful during the process of realizing the prospective naval shipbuilding initiatives.
This is the first newly, purpose built combat vessel for the Polish Navy since 20 years, that was constructed entirely by the Polish industry. However, Remontowa Shipbuilding, formerly known as Northern Shipyard, enjoys rich track record in the military production, since the company, in its history, has built over 400 military ships with majority delivered for the Polish Navy.
Let us recall the fact that the first model laboratory tests of the first “Kormoran II” minehunter began a few weeks after the contract was concluded, in September 2013. In April 2014, a ceremony of cutting the first sheets of steel for the ship took place (the hull is created out of non-magnetic steel). On 15th of September 2014, on the anniversary of signing the contract, the keel-laying ceremony took place. The hull of the ship left the assembly hall on May 3rd 2015 and was prepared for launching.
The “Kormoran II” type ship is designed to search and countermeasure mines in the waters of the Polish exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and while taking part in tactical task forces in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and other auxiliary tasks defined by Polish Ministry of Defence. The vessel is designed with great care to achieve low signature and high manoeuvrability, owing to use of cycloid propellers driven by diesel engines. The ship with a length of 58 meters should be manned by a 45-person crew.
Remontowa Shipbuilding, established in 1945, is the prime supplier of naval vessels for Polish Navy. The return to close cooperation with Ministry of Defence is significant achievement for the Yard, especially in light that this project if forerunning project for Polish Naval Fleet Renewal Program.
On the same day, when Kormoran was delivered to Polish Navy and transferred from the yard in Gdańsk, to its base in Gdynia, another ship destined for the navy, not Polish though, departed Remontowa Shipbuilding, as well. Following earlier delivery (which took place on October 21) and a period of Owners’ preparations, the sailing training vessel El-Mellah built for Algerian Navy departed left yard and Polish port bound for its home base on the Mediterranean.
GL, PBS, IG / PortalMorski.pl; rel (Remontowa Shipbuilding; CTM)
Photo: Piotr B. Stareńczak
“Kormoran II” class minehunter – principal particulars: length overall 58.50 m, length b.p. 55.58 m, breadth max. 10.30 m, breath at waterline 9.75 m, depth (at forecastle) 6.40 m, depth (aft main deck) 4.70 m, design draught 2.7 m; displacement: up to 850 t; complement 45 persons, additional persons accommodated 7 persons; maximum speed 15 knots, sailing range > 2500 Nm; propulsion and machinery: diesel engines 2 × MTU 8V369TE74L o mocy po 1000 kW (1360 KM), cycloidal propulsors 2 × Voith-Schneider, generating sets 3 × MTU 6R1600M20S with electrical power of 380 kVA, bow thruster 100 kW.
MCMV Kormoran departing the yard and the port of Gdańsk on delivery day:
