On the 104th anniversary of the Polish Navy, the flag was raised on the ORP Albatros, a Kormoran II series mine countermeasure vessel built at Remontowa Shipbuilding. The ceremony took place on November 28 at the Naval Port in Gdynia with the attendance of Commander General of the Armed Forces General Jaroslaw Mika and Vice Admiral Jarosław Ziemiański, Inspector of the Navy.
The event was also attended, among others, by Michal Wisniewski – Undersecretary of State at MOD, Jacek Siewiera – Head of the National Security Bureau, Commander of the Maritime Operations Centre – Maritime Component Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski, Rear Admiral Vladimir Kulagin – Commander of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla, Rear Admiral Miroslaw Jurkowlaniec – Commander of the 3rd Ship Flotilla, Rector-Commander of the Naval Academy Rear Admiral Prof. Tomasz Szubrycht, active list of the Polish Army, representatives of other uniformed services and formations, as well as parliamentarians, including MP Michał Jach, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Pomeranian Governor Dariusz Drelich and West Pomeranian Governor Zbigniew Bogucki, Mayor of Swinoujscie Janusz Żmurkiewicz.
The ship’s godmother Krystyna Patz was also present.
– The first raising of the flag on the minehunter ORP Albatros is part of the long-term process of the naval armed force modernisation. The Operational Program for Combating Threats at Sea and its implementation in the coming years guarantees the building of the Polish Navy to meet our needs and expectations,” said Gen. Jaroslaw Mika.
BBN Chief Jacek Siewiera handed over the flag to the ship’s first commander, Cmdr. Lt. Michal Narlowski, and the Navy’s pennant to his deputy Capt. Mar. Patrycja Jurdzińska.
– ORP Albatros, entering service, is a testimony to innovative Polish technical thought. (…) During the war we are observing across our eastern border, it is clear how crucial it is to maintain the security of critical infrastructure and ports. Mine destroyers are one of the cornerstones of the security of port infrastructure and, consequently, the security of the state,” the BBN chief added.
“The twin ship ORP Mewa will also soon enter service, and we have contracted further vessels of this type. The creation of these ships proves the possibilities for cooperation between institutions participating in the modernisation of the Polish Navy and the Polish shipbuilding industry’s potential, which we can and will use in modernising our armed forces,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak stressed in a letter read out by Deputy Minister Michał Wiśniewski.
ORP Albatros will replenish the fleet of the 13th minesweeper squadron of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla and will be stationed at the Naval Port of Gdynia. It will be joined by ORP Mewa soon.
After the official ceremony, Adam Ruszkowski, the CEO of Remontowa Holding, presented Vice Admiral Jarosław Ziemiański with a ship’s bell, made in 1:100 scale with a commemorative plaque. In turn, Remontowa Shipbuilding CEO Marcin Ryngwelski handed the ship’s godmother Krystyna Patz a painting depicting the ORP Albatros ship at sea.
photos: Sławomir Lewandowski / PortalMorski.pl