Polish Register of Ships involved in the project of a new floater

The Polish Register of Ships S.A. assumed classification supervision over the construction of a specialized unit – a float put up – carried out by SSN "Wulkan" on behalf of the Maritime Office in Szczecin. The project is intended to strengthen the safety of shipping in the waters of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship.

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Cooperation between the PRS and the Volcano Shipyard

The agreement concerning classification supervision was concluded on 23 July 2025 with the Management Board of SSN "Wulkan" sp. z o.o. On the other hand, an investment contract was signed on 22 April 2025 with an order for the contractor.

The floater is created with a view to increasing navigation safety in ports and on waterways managed by the Maritime Office in Szczecin. The work includes Zalew Szczeciński and redes of smaller ports. The new unit is intended to maintain and modernise the navigation marking.

Technical characteristics of the unit

The design of the buoy will be a specialist unit adapted for operation in region III with an ice class L1, which will ensure its ability to carry out work also in weather conditions with wind power up to 6°B and sea condition 4. The hull of the unit was designed with a view to operational resistance under changing hydrometeorological conditions characteristic of the southern Baltic, including red and access tracks to Western Pomerania ports.

The unit will be approximately 29 metres long, 8.30 metres wide, and a height to the main deck of 2.70 metres. The design dip of 1.80 metres and 2.20 metres is expected to reach operating speed of up to 10 knots. He'll find on board a modern on-board crane and cabestane are available, and an enlarged working deck will allow to operate buoys of up to 4500 kg and anchors weighing up to 1500 kg, which will significantly increase the effectiveness of navigation marking work in the region.

The contract provides for the execution of the unit within 18 months of its signature, which means that the launching should take place at the end of 2026. The estimated cost of the project exceeds PLN 30 million.

Scope of activities of the Polish Register of Ships

Under the signed agreement, the Polish Register of Ships exercises full classification supervision over the construction of a new float putter. Its tasks will include comprehensive analysis of technical documentation, control of shipbuilding and participation in key stages of the reception of the unit, including attempts. heelThese and sea trials. PRS will also review the materials and equipment installed on the unit and then issue the required certificates: class, machine equipment and freeboard certificate.

The scope of the action will also include an assessment of the project's compliance with marine environmental legislation. Additionally, radio, signal and navigation equipment will be reviewed. Upon completion of the measurements of the unit, the PRS shall draw up the complete measurement and registration documentation necessary to allow the unit to operate.

Background and relevance of the project

The initiative to build a new buoy is part of the process of repolonizing the ship industry. The project is implemented in the "turnkey" formula of Szczecińska Shipyard "Wulkan" together with national subcontractors – including Seatech Engineering and Maritime Electricity, which is an important impetus for the developing maritime sector in West Pomerania.

As a result, the new unit will replace the used unit Galaxy, serving since 1975, and will become the second largest unit in the fleet of the Maritime Office – leaving only Planet I. This will make it possible to operate around 300 buoys and over 200 navigation signs, which will significantly improve the work of marking and maintaining navigation infrastructure in the region.

Source: PRS