A keel was laid on Oxyvi for the future rescue ship called "The Rescuer"

On 4 February, at the PGZ War Shipyard in Oxyvia, the ceremony of placing a keel under the rescue ship was held. Lifeguard. This event formally began building the hull of the unit, which in the future is to provide the Polish Navy with new rescue capabilities and support for activities carried out at sea and underwater.

Although the ceremony is not as spectacular as launching or raising the flag, in the shipbuilding realities it is one of the most important moments of the entire construction cycle. From now on, the project ceases to function only in technical documentation, and the ship begins to form as a real construction.

It is worth noting that from the ceremony of placing the keel under the second frigate of the program Sword – the future ORP Storm – it's only been a month and a half. Such a sequence of key events in Gdynia's Oxywiu shows the pace of work and the ability of PGZ War Shipyard to parallel the implementation of the most demanding ship programs, should be considered something undoubtedly unique for the Polish ship industry.

Guests and voice of industry

The ceremony was attended by representatives of state administration, the Polish Navy, supervisory institutions and a wide range of companies cooperating with the shipyard in the construction of this ship. The presence of invited companies highlighted the team nature of the programme Lifeguard and the role of the national industrial base in the implementation of this project.

The importance of the event was highlighted by the presence of representatives of state administration, military and defence industry. The ceremony was attended by, among others, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defence Stanisław Wzątek, the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of State Activities Konrad Golota, the Inspector of the Navy Deputy Admiral Jarosław Ziemański, the Vice Admiral Jarosław Piłewski representing the Head of Staff of the General Polish Army and the Vice-President of the Polish Armed Forces Group Jan J. Grabowski.

The participants of the ceremony pointed out that the position of the keel was a symbolic moment in which the unit "starts to exist" in a technical sense. The importance of the pace of work carried out in the PGZ of the Naval Shipyard was also highlighted and the fact that the programme Lifeguard is part of the reconstruction of the competences of the Polish shipbuilding industry as a whole – not individual entities, but the entire ecosystem of companies, specialists and technologies.

Vulture – technical and symbolic moment

The position of the keel is one of the key stages of the ship's construction process. In technical terms, it means starting the assembly of the hull structure, while symbolically confirming the transition of the project from the preparatory phase to the proper implementation. According to shipbuilding practice, a commemorative plaque was added to the structure of the keel, which will remain permanently part of the ship.

This stage also has a formal dimension – confirms the progress of work before the contracting authority and industrial partners. It is no accident that the position of the keel is treated in establishments Shipbuilding as the actual beginning of the construction of the unit.

Meaning of the vessel of the future vessel Lifeguard for the Navy of Poland

Location of the keel for the future Lifeguard is important for the operational capabilities of the Polish Navy. Currently used rescue ships are exploitable units, which planned withdrawals were already considered in the previous decade. Programme Lifeguard to fill the gap and provide a modern tool to carry out rescue, inspection and support underwater activities.

In the context of the growing importance of the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic and the experience of incidents involving offshore cables and installations, the construction of a specialised rescue vessel is of particular importance. Today's celebration in Oxy confirms that after years of interruptions and corrections the program Lifeguard entered the stage of real construction.

It is worth noting that today position of the keel is not merely the result of formal decisions or contractual provisions, but the result of the multi-month consistent work of a team of people directly involved in the implementation of the programme. Following the project from the very beginning, it is difficult not to see the personal involvement of the president of the PGZ of the Marcin Ryngwelski Naval Shipyard and the huge contribution of Mariusz Małecki, the Head of the Strategic Programme Lifeguard. It was the determination, competence and ability of both of you to carry out this project that led to the moment when the future Lifeguard He stopped being a plan and became a real builder. Today's celebration in Oxy is the best confirmation that the programme, although difficult and repeatedly contested, has been brought to a stage that can no longer be undone.