Last module on the water. Volcano completes the key stage of building the floating dock

On Saturday, August 8, in Szczecin, the third and last module of the floating dock built by the SSN "Wulkan" for the Marine Shiprepair Yard "Grifia" was launched.

By observing the launching from the wharf, you could fully see the scale of the entire operation. Launching The last module closes an important stage in the implementation of one of the largest projects currently carried out in Szczecin Volcano, and at the same time shows the capabilities of the shipyard, which again implements large-scale constructions for the Polish maritime economy.

Launching a module weighing more than 4,000 tonnes

Preparations for launching began the day before. On Friday, August 7, weighing more than 4,000 tons, the module was removed from the Odra Nowa assembly square on the mobile modular transporters and set on the launching platform.

On Saturday, August 8th, proper launching was carried out on the rotor at Eve's elevation. The ponto was gradually submerged until the module measuring about 80 metres gained its own buoyancy and remained on its own on the water.

The last module was assembled on the assembly square in just 13 weeks. With such a huge construction with a weight of over 4,000 tons, it is a very good pace and effect of efficient organization of work of the entire team. Launching the third module is one of the most important stages of the construction of the floating dock. Now we focus on combining all three modules and further equipment.

Radosław Kowalczyk, President of SSN "Wulkan"

Three modules will form a 235.6 meter long dock

Two first modules were launched earlier and are already connected at the Drzetowski Coast, where the equipment works are underway. The third, last element of the structure will now be attached to them.

After integrating all dock modules, it will reach 235.6 metres overall length and 47.3 metres external width. Its support length will be 231 meters, the inner width 38 meters, and the mass of the complete structure will be about 13 thousand tons.

The most important, however, will be the possibilities that the new dock will provide for Gryfia. The maximum weight of the docked vessel will be 24,000 tonnes, so that the Szczecin ship repair will be able to receive larger units than today.

We're building the largest dock on the entire west coast. After completion of the work related to the section connection, it will be nearly 240 metres long. This is the largest construction ever built in this shipyard. Several months from now, the largest ships that could reach the Szczecin port will be renovated in the "Griffy".

Arkadiusz Marchewka, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure supervising the Company Development Fund

For a Vulcan, it's more than one contract.

The significance of this construction is difficult to assess solely by the prism of future possibilities of the Gryfia. For Stocznia Szczecińska "Wulkan" the implementation of such a large structure confirms the ability to organise the production, assembly and movement of large-scale steel structures and to conduct demanding launching operations.

This was particularly evident from the wharf. They impressed not only the size of the module itself, but also the method of preparing and conducting the entire operation. However, it is even more important that the construction of this scale is re-established at a place that has been associated with a reduction in shipbuilding for years.

The new dock will start working in Gryfia in 2027

After the combination of all three modules, further equipment work will be carried out, followed by preparation for tests and receptions. In line with the current schedule new dock is expected to start work at the Marine Shiprepair Yard "Grifia" in 2027.

This dock is also an investment of the Fund, an order for the Volcano and a working tool for the "Griffy". We have invested significant resources in its construction, and from 2027 it will work at the Maritime Repair Shipyard "Grifia", which will allow it to operate larger ships than before.

Aleksandra Skibniewska, President of the Management Board of the Company Development Fund