Construction of a new "Youth Gift" without volunteers. First tender failed

In the first proceedings to design and build a successor Youth Gift There was no offer. It doesn't end the program, but it's a serious warning signal.

At stake in this proceeding is not only a new school sailing ship, but the continuity of staff training for the Polish maritime economy and maritime transport.

The Gift of Youth shows the flag, the successor is stuck in the tender

It's hard to get a more symbolic moment. The Gift of Youth is in New York, where he represents Poland during the sailing ship parade associated with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. There are students, crew and representatives of the Maritime University of Gdynia on board. The Polish school frigate is again doing what the public has used to for decades: it trains, promotes the country and reminds of the Polish maritime tradition.

Meanwhile, a cold shower came from the country. In the first tender for the execution of the project and the construction of the successor Youth Gift no offer has been made. The deadline for submission of tenders was 1 July and the Maritime University of Gdynia announced an analysis of the situation and the preparation of another procedure.

The program, of course, is not yet buried. The tender can be repeated and the documentation improved. The problem is that with such a project, the lack of even one offer is not a minor formality. It is a signal that the market conditions may have been too difficult, too costly or too risky for potential performers.

It's not just a school ship.

Successor Youth Gift is intended to be a holding school frigate, larger than the current sailboat and adapted to modern teaching, technical and safety requirements. According to the assumptions, the unit is expected to have about 112 metres in length overall with a buckshrite, at least 3300 m2 of basic sailing and a seat for 169 people, including 120 cadets.

However, the figures themselves do not reflect the importance of the entire programme. It's a ship to train future merchant naval officers for decades. On such a board, students learn to work at sea, watch, navigation, responsibility for the team and functioning in conditions where error quickly ceases to be a theory.

In maritime transport, well-prepared personnel are as important as ships, ports and infrastructure. Without people capable of working on the bridge, even the most developed maritime economy remains incomplete in shipping, maritime administration and logistics. Therefore, the successor Youth Gift is not an addition to tradition, but an investment in the future staff of Polish shipping.

No offers should make you think

The procedure was carried out in the formula "design and build". For the customer, it is a convenient solution because it combines design and execution in one contract. For Polish shipyards However, it means preparing an expensive, complex and risky offer.

In the industry we can hear that the problem may have been documentation requirements, the cost of preparing proposals and administrative procedures. However, it should be noted that these are not the official reasons indicated by the contracting authority. At this stage, we can talk about signals from the market, not a settled diagnosis.

Building a school boat is a niche enterprise. It's not a serial construction of a ferry, a tow truck, or a mass-car. The contractor must combine shipbuilding, design, sailing, teaching and shipowner's competences. In addition, modern navigation systems, hybrid drive, safety requirements and standards of operation of the school ship are added.

Therefore, the lack of offers does not necessarily imply a lack of interest in the idea itself. Rather, it can show that the market has considered the current conditions too difficult, too risky or needing clarification. Therefore, the next procedure should be prepared to maintain the ambition of the programme, but not to close the way for real performers.

Maritime education needs continuity

The Gift of Youth entered service in the 1980s and has since become one of the most recognizable Polish school ships. For many graduates of the college of sea, he was the first major test at sea. For the public it remains a symbol of Gdynia, Polish flag and tradition, which does not end with memories of The Gift of Pomerania.

Except the symbols are getting old too. The current ship can be renovated and used as long as the technical condition and regulations allow. However, the decision to succeed cannot be postponed forever. Maritime education requires planning for decades, because people for shipping do not create from year to year.

This is particularly important today, when Poland expands ports, invests in offshore, develops maritime logistics and is increasingly talking about the protection of critical infrastructure at sea. In such an environment, our own maritime education is not sentimental. It is part of the economic security of the state.

The program needs to get back on track.

Construction of the successor Youth Gift was included in the multiannual programme "Construction of ships for maritime universities from 2025 to 2029". It also includes new school-research vessel for the Maritime University of Szczecin. The project therefore has financial power and is not just an academic idea.

Now it will be crucial to prepare a second procedure. It should not be a simple repetition of the previous if the analysis shows that the conditions have discouraged potential contractors. It is necessary to check the documentation, risk sharing, deadlines, technical requirements and how to talk to the market.

This case is not about quick signing at all costs. It's more important to sign it well. Successor Youth Gift is intended to serve for decades, so errors made at the stage of assumptions, requirements or contracts may return throughout the period of construction and subsequent operation.

The first procedure did not bring tenders, but the case should not be stuck in the official procedure. If Poland wants to maintain strong maritime education and educate staff for shipping, ports, offshore and maritime administration, successor Youth Gift must return to the real path of construction. It will now be crucial to prepare a second tender to attract contractors, limit the risks on both sides and end with a contract that will start building the future Polish school frigate.