Are Polish shipyards ready to implement the upcoming programmes?

In view of the announcement of the implementation of the programme "Metrician", but also speculation about the reactivation of the programme "Batory" and the programme "Satator", Polish shipyards face a serious challenge in terms of maintaining personal potential. The increasing demand for qualified workers also applies to shipyards operating in the repair and yacht production market.

Key project for the Polish sector In the coming years, the construction of three frigate-class ships under the "Meter" programme will take place. The current schedule of the program assumes its completion in 2034, but the "physical" construction of the first of the ships is expected to begin as early as 2023. Representatives of the consortium PGZ-Miecznik (PGZ S.A., PGZ Stocznia Wojenna Sp. z o.o. and Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A.) emphasize that the implementation of this project in Poland will create about 2,000 jobs in shipyards, arms companies and other industrial sectors involved in the project.

The Meter programme is undoubtedly a great opportunity for local industry, but also a challenge in organising and planning from the perspective of the shipyards involved in its implementation. One of them is to build the appropriate personal potential – especially for production workers, but also designers and technologists.

PGZ Stocznia Wojenna has been in intensive action for several months to increase the supply of skilled workers. In recent months, a number of recruitment and marketing actions have been carried out – including advertising on the outside of SKM trains and billboard action in Rumi. Currently, they focus primarily on the acquisition of specialists from various sectors (not only production workers, but also internal control specialists, IT specialists or lawyers).

On the basis of forecasts, in connection with the implementation of the "Meter", the PGZ SW will have to employ around 300 production workers. In the coming months, the board of directors of the shipyard will intensify activities aimed at enhancing personal capacity. Apart from current needs, the PGZ SW also sees great potential in cooperation with local educational institutions. Therefore, cooperation with the Centre for Vocational and Legislative Training No. 1 in Gdynia was established, which includes holiday internships and year-round internships for students in the competition: boat hulls and electricians. As part of the cooperation started last year in the Regional School Complex No. 2 of Hipolit Roszczyalski, a patronage class was established for students who were educated in the competitions: boat hulls (water transport industry), pipeline systems (mechanical industry), mechanics – machinery and equipment (mechanical industry).

Krzysztof Zaremba, President of the Board of the Maritime Repair Shipyard "Grifia", also spoke of plans to increase employment in the coming months, mentioning the necessity of employing about 200 new workers in connection with the development of the yard's production potential in Szczecin. The need to increase the number of production staff was also discussed by representatives of another Szczecin shipyard – "The Volcano", which is currently implementing a project to build a new dock for "Griffy".

Gdańsk Shipyard "Remontowa" still retains the position of one of the European leaders on the number of repairs carried out annually, while increasing demand for installation of ballast water treatment systems also results in the need to develop personal potential. Nor should we forget about the dynamically developing yacht manufacturing industry in Poland in recent years. All this means that a supply of highly educated staff is needed, for which there is a constant and growing demand. This requires cooperation at local and national level, but also appropriate actions (taking into account the long-term perspective) by the boards of Polish shipyards.

Written by MD