The Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard located in Gdańsk has begun the next stage of construction of the sixth minehunter of the 258 design, the future ORP Czajka (606). Work on this vessel began two months earlier. The ship is the third in its series, which will be part of the 12th Minesweeper Squadron of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla.

The keel-laying ceremony is another ceremony related to the construction of ships for the Polish Navy, which took place this year at the Gdańsk shipyard. It was attended by representatives of the national and local government authorities, the Armament Agency, the command staff of the naval forces, as well as other invited guests, including presidents and employees of companies belonging to the Remontowa Holding capital group.

The key moment during the event was the installation of a symbolic medal in the keel, which meant the act of laying it and starting a new stage of work. According to tradition, this is to ensure further success of the construction and happiness for the sailors who will serve on the future ship. Then the head of the Maritime Technology Department, the president of the Polish Register of Shipping and the project director from the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard signed the document sealing the act of laying the keel.

Kormoran II-class minehunters is currently the largest ship series in the Polish shipbuilding industry in the 21st century. It is in the Gdańsk shipyard Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. three ships of the 258 project were built in the years 2013-2022, ORP Kormoran (601), ORP Albatros (602) and ORP Mewa (603), which currently serve in the 13th Minesweeper Squadron of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla and are stationed at the Gdynia Naval Port. These units are designed to search for and combat sea mines in the waters of the Polish economic zone and in tactical groups in the Baltic and North Seas. They have high propulsion parameters provided by cycloidal thrusters powered by combustion engines and low physical field signatures. Due to their tasks, they are very important for shipping and strategic supplies, including export and import in Polish ports. They provide protection for the expansion of port infrastructure, as unexploded ordnance from World War II is constantly being discovered. They also help protect energy installations, both gas and wind.

The new minehunters are to enter service in 2026-2027 and will be stationed at the Świnoujście Naval Port. The christening and launching of the first of them, the future ORP Jaskółka, took place in June this year. Earlier, in January and March, ceremonies took place, respectively, cutting metal sheets and laying the keel for the future ORP Rybitwa. This unit is to be christened and launched in March next year. Considering the pace of work, a similar ceremony for Czajka will probably take place at the end of 2025.

The laying of the keel means that the shipyard faces a great challenge related to the further construction of ships for the Polish Navy. In the future, this means the launching of further units, sea trials and final re-equipment, including key systems and weapons.