On the 100th anniversary of granting Gdynia city rights Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited PGZ War Shipyard in Gdynia. He was accompanied by the Pomeranian Voivodeship Beata Rutkiewicz, and representatives of the local government also attended the visit. The topic was both investments carried out on the premises and the role of shipyards in the process of modernization of the Polish Navy.
It wasn’t just an anniversary visit. Yes, the context of the Jubilee was strong, but in the background there were concrete declarations concerning the construction of ships and the ambition of the state in the maritime dimension.
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What exactly was shown to the Prime Minister at the shipyard
The delegation took note of the progress of work on ship-based programmes carried out at the shipyard, including the first frigate built under the Sword Programme – the future ORP Wind. Guests were guided by a member of the board of PGZ of the Beata Koniarska Naval Shipyard.
Photo by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and member of the board of PGZ of the Beata Koniarska Naval Shipyard during a visit to the shipyards in Gdynia Oxywiu / PGZ Stocznia Wojenna
PGZ Stocznia Wojenna is currently carrying out two key tasks for the Polish Navy: the construction of three frigates in the Sword Program and the construction of a rescue ship in the Rescue Program. These projects are the foundation for rebuilding the capabilities of the Polish Maritime Force.
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Declarations by the Prime Minister: coverage, ambition and “State Maritime Project”
During the visit, the Prime Minister referred directly to the importance of the frigate program for the security and position of Poland.
The construction of new Polish ships is not only future security in the Baltic, but also a major technological achievement.
In another passage, he pointed out the parameters of future units:
The frigates will be able to travel the distance from Gdynia to New York and back without being called to port. That’s impressive. Not only hugeness and modernity, but also technical possibilities – unprecedented.
The Prime Minister linked the shipping program to a wider vision of the maritime policy of the state.
Thanks to the expansion of Polish ports and the development of the fleet, our country aspires to play a major role in the Baltic Sea.
Our renewed naval power is both a joint action of the Baltic Sentry and the development of ports and fleets. The new frigates are only part of our ambition, this great sea project, of which Gdynia is an absolute centre said the Prime Minister.
It was this passage of the speech that gave the visit a clearly strategic dimension – going beyond the construction of three frigates.
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“15 billion PLN” and “domination in the Baltic” – a message that went into ether
In the media space there was also an amount of about PLN 15 billion in the context of the value of the program Miecznik. In conjunction with the declarations of “main role in the Baltic”, this creates a clear political signal: shipbuilding projects are state-ranked and are part of a wider security strategy.
For industry this means one thing – a public confirmation that the programs will continue, and Gdynia remains a key centre for the implementation of orders for the Polish Navy.
Why this visit is important for the industry – three proposals
Firstly, it is a signal of political shielding for timetables and funding. In ship programs, the worst are not even delays, but silence – there is no clear message that the state “stands behind” implementation. Here the message was clear: the government wants to show continuity and weight Shipbuilding programmes.
Second: Gdynia was set as a point of gravity on the maritime map of the state – in the anniversary narrative the city and port return as a strategic argument, not only historical. This strengthens the position of local actors in discussions on infrastructure investments and supply chains.
Third: The Swordsman and Rescuer were pressed into one image of the “modernization of MW RP”. This is important, because in the public debate, programs often live separately, and the industry is paid more to narrative about the portfolio of orders and the continuity of “robots” – than about a single “ship-symbol”.
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Anniversary context, shipyard in the centre of events
A visit to Śmidowicza Street was held on the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the granting of city rights to Gdynia. In anniversaries, the history of the port and city was directly linked to current investments in Ship industry.
History gives a tone. The industry provides arguments.
And in this structure PGZ Stocznia Wojenna it was located exactly where it has been tried for years to place it – in the center of the sea narrative of the state.