Sea trials of RIBs for offshore patrol vessel ORP Ślązak
On January 14, Naval Shipyard Gdynia SA in Poland held sea trials of rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that will be on board the Polish Navy’s patrol vessel ORP Ślązak. The tests were successfully completed.
The ORP Ślązak is the first Polish-built modern patrol vessel in 21 years. Based on the MEKO® A-100 design by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the vessel was christened on July 2, 2015 in Gdynia at the site of Naval Shipyard (Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej SA) Poland.
Read more: Former corvette re-launched as re-designated OPV
Photo: Marian Kluczynski/Polish Navy
The first RIB is an MK-500 with a total length of 5.3 m, a width of 2.66 m and a draft of 0.4 m. It carries 6 people and is powered by a 100 hp engine and a 5 hp electric outboard motor. The main engine can reach speeds of 12 knots.
The second one MK-790 (length 7,9 m, width 3,15 m, draft 0,7 m), is to be crewed by 15 members of boarding division and is equipped with two propulsion engines (Bukh S250 type) allowing the boat to reach a speed of 30 knots.
ORP Ślązak, the construction of which has been delayed, is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in 2017.
