On 19 March 2025 Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard in Gdansk hosted the baptism and launching ceremony of the future minehunter ORP Rybitwa (605). This vessel is the second unit in the second three-ship series of the 258 project, also known as the Kormoran II class. These ships are being constructed for the 12th Wolin Minesweeper Squadron, part of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla based in Swinoujscie.
The future ORP Rybitwa will be the fourth ship in Polish Navy history to bear this significant name, one which is closely associated with mine countermeasure forces. The original ORP Rybitwa was formerly the German minesweeper FM 2 of the FM class. The second was one of six Polish-designed and built minesweepers, nicknamed ‘Birds’, which served the Polish Navy from 1935 to 1939. This vessel actively participated in the defensive war of 1939 but was later captured and incorporated into the German Navy, where it primarily served auxiliary roles.
After surviving the war, it was reinstated to the Polish Navy on January 25, 1946, and used until 1966, later serving as a barracks barge in Gdynia. The third vessel with this name was a Polish project 206F minesweeper, one of 12 ships of its class. It entered service in 1967 and served until 2002.
The godmother of the fourth ORP Rybitwa is Mrs Maria Teryfter, wife of Rear Admiral Krzysztof Teryfter, the former commander of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla. The first commander of the new ship will be Lieutenant Commander Rafał Duszewski.
The construction of this minehunter, designated yard number 258/5, began on 19 January 2024, with the initial burning of non-magnetic steel sheets. The keel was laid on 20 March 2024. Following its recent launch, the vessel was towed to the equipment quay, where its outfitting will continue. The ship is expected to be handed over to the Polish Navy in 2026.
Photo and report by Lukasz Blaszczak
