On July 2, Minister Siemoniak launched and christened the ORP Ślązak (Silesian) patrol boat at the Naval Shipyard in Gdynia. The ORP Ślązak is the first new Polish-built Navy ship in 21 years.
«Thanks to Polish shipyard workers in particular. We believed that they would be able to perform this task, and they acquitted themselves well. We look forward to further ships from Polish shipyards», said the head of the Defense Ministry.
On Thursday, Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak participated in the ceremony of launching and christening of the ship patrol ORP Ślązak, which was held in the Naval Shipyard in Gdynia.
The Minister said that, in accordance with the schedule, the ship should begin to serve late next year. «Now you need to fit it out. We must also train the crew. We anticipate that by the end of next year it will normally come into service. She must also undergo sea trials at this time. This is the plan», the Deputy Prime Minister said, and he added that he is confident about the continuation of work and schedule adherence.
Minister Siemoniak also said that negotiations are continuing with Polish Armament Group for the next six ships – patrol and coast guard vessels. He added that in his opinion, Polish shipyards are absolutely ready for such projects.
«Expansion of the Navy is the need of our time. We need new capability in the Baltic Sea, and to cooperate in the framework of NATO. The Alliance, because of what is happening in Europe and around Europe, looks completely different at sea, as was shown is the recent BALTOPS-2015 exercise. The Baltic Sea is of strategic importance for our interests and the interests of NATO. This is an indication that we should develop our naval forces», stressed the Deputy Prime Minister during the ceremony.
Construction of the ship patrol in the basic version of Ślązak is implemented by the Minister of Defence’s decision to use the platform on the multi-purpose corvette platform Gawron. Upon completion in 2012 of the requisite analysis and consultations, the minister decided that the best solution would be to complete the construction of Gawron as a patrol ship, retrofitting it with equipment and other naval systems required for its re-tasking.
In February of 2013, Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak signed a decision ordering the negotiations for the supply of an Integrated Combat System, and annexing an existing agreement taking into account the new requirements for the ship.
On September 23, 2013 was signed an annex to the original contract directing that the ship be completed by the Naval Shipyard using the existing platform as the patrol ship ORP Ślązak. The contract annex clarifies issues of completing the ship and changing its mission from multipurpose corvettes to patrol boat.
Characteristics:
Length – 312.3 feet/95.2 m;
Width – 44.3 feet/13.5 m;
Draught – 11.8 feet/3.6 m;
Standard displacement – 1,800 tonnes;
Propulsion: 2 main engines with a capacity of 2 × 3,240 kW;
Maximum speed – 30+ knots/34.5+ mph/55.5+ km/h;
Cruising Speed: 18 knots/20.7 mph/33.3 km/h – 2,000 NM/ 2,301 miles/3,704 km range;
Economical Speed: 14 knots/16 mph/26 km/h – 4,500 NM/5,178 miles/8,334 km range;
Accessories – bow thruster azimuth and active stabilizers swings.
Armament:
1 x 76mm OTO Melara DP gun;
2 x 30mm Marlin – WS cannons
4 x 12.7mm Machine Guns
4 x Grom AAW missile launchers
