Mewa (603), the third Polish Kormoran II MCMV, is expected to be delivered later in 2022. The Polish Navy has ordered a second batch of three Kormoran IIs, which are planned to be delivered in 2026–27. (Polish Armaments Agency)
Poland's Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract for three additional Kormoran II (Project 258)-class mine-countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) on 26 June, the Polish Armaments Agency has announced.
Under the terms of the contract, valued at around PLN2.5 billion (USD563 million), the new ships are expected to be delivered in 2026–27, and will be based with the Polish Navy's 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla.
The new vessels will supplement the three Kormoran II MCMVs on order for the Polish Navy under contracts awarded to a consortium comprising Remontowa Shipbuilding (acting as the prime contractor), Gdynia naval shipyard, OBR CTM, and the CTO Ship Design and Research Centre.
The first MCMV, ORP Kormoran (601), has been in service since November 2017 and is based with the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla's 13th Minesweeper Squadron. The second and third ships, ORP Albatros (602) and ORP Mewa (603), were launched in October 2019 and December 2020, respectively.
According to the armaments agency, Albatros is undergoing military handover trials and is scheduled to be delivered to the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla in August. Mewa, meanwhile, is conducting contractor's sea-acceptance tests (SATs), and is expected to be delivered in November 2022.
The 58 m Kormoran IIs feature a non-magnetic steel hull, displace around 850 tonnes fully loaded, and can carry a crew complement of 45, with accommodation for seven additional personnel.
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