It is not yet a fully commissioned naval vessel, but it is already undergoing sea trials under the supervision of specialists from Remontowa Shipbuilding and several other institutions involved in its construction. The ship in question is Jaskółka. It will receive the prefix ORP (Polish Navy Ship) only when it is handed over to the Polish Navy and the Polish white-and-red naval ensign is raised above its deck. Although this is unlikely to happen for another several weeks, or perhaps a few months, sailors in Świnoujście are eagerly awaiting the moment. “The entry of Jaskółka vessel into service marks an epoch-making change for us,” emphasizes Cdr Sławomir Góra, commanding officer of the 12th Minesweeper Squadron, to which the vessel will be assigned.

One Training After Another

The vessel is a state-of-the-art Kormoran II-class minehunter. Three ships of this type are already in service with the Polish Navy. However, all three belong to the 13th Minesweeper Squadron, which, like the 12th Squadron, is subordinate to the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla but is based in Gdynia. Jaskółka will be the first Kormoran-class vessel based permanently in Świnoujście. Also, two more ships of the same class will soon join her – first Rybitwa, then Czajka. “Our squadron’s capabilities are currently built around conventional minesweepers. Acquiring minehunters will significantly expand our capabilities. It will also change the way we operate at sea. For our personnel, this represents a considerable challenge,” admits Cdr Sławomir Góra.

Preparations for the arrival of Jaskółka are in full swing. Her crew is almost fully assembled. “The vast majority of us previously served aboard minesweepers. Nevertheless, we are systematically familiarizing ourselves with the new vessel’s design. Thanks to the hospitality of our colleagues from the 13th Squadron, we travel to Gdynia to study the Kormorans stationed there. Whenever possible, we also go to sea together with their crews,” explains LtCdr Kamil Kalina, commanding officer of Jaskółka. He adds that most of his subordinates have already obtained the formal qualifications required to serve in their future positions.

Specialist training courses in Poland and abroad are also part of the preparations. “Our sailors have already visited Norway and Sweden, where they learned about the operating principles of underwater vehicles manufactured by Kongsberg and Saab. More recently, the personnel of the engineering department returned from Germany, where the training focused on MTU engines,” LtCdr Kamil Kalina explains. At Enamor in Gdynia, which represents Iceland-based Teledyne Marine, sailors learned the intricacies of operating the Gavia AUV. Meanwhile, the staff from the Research and Development at the Maritime Technology Center (OBR CTM) provided instruction on the vessel’s SCOT-M combat management system. The list of courses is, of course, much longer.

At the same time, Jaskółka’s crew is participating in the ship’s construction process. “We supervise the sea trials. Some are conducted at sea, others in port. If we identify a malfunction in any mechanism, we report it to the manufacturer’s representatives, who make the necessary adjustments on the spot,” explains the ship’s commanding officer. Step by step, the sailors are approaching the moment when they will claim full responsibility for the vessel.

Medal-Worthy Minehunters

The prototype Kormoran entered service almost nine years ago. The first production vessels of Project 258 joined it in November 2022 and February 2023. The ships have already made their mark in national and international exercises in the Baltic Sea. In July 2026, ORP Mewa deployed on a NATO mission. The vessel joined SNMCMG1, the first of NATO’s standing mine countermeasures groups. Its mission is to patrol shipping lanes in northern part of Europe, clear waters of dangerous remnants from both world wars, and maintain readiness to respond in the event of a crisis or armed conflict. Recently, the group operated near Iceland, where the Exercise Northern Viking 2026 was taking place. Over the years, the Kormoran-class vessels have demonstrated their strengths. Experts agree that they rank among the best minehunters in the world.

The ships are built from non-magnetic steel and equipped with cycloidal propulsors and an additional electric propulsion system. As a result, they are quiet and highly maneuverable, while the physical signatures they emit remain low. All these features significantly reduce the risk of a ship accidentally triggering a mine while operating in waters where such weapons may be present.

The vessels also carry an extensive range of equipment. Of particular importance is their suite of unmanned underwater vehicles, both autonomous and remotely operated. The Gavia and Hugin vehicles are used to survey the seabed for mines and unexploded ordnance. A similar role is performed by the towed Kraken Katfish sonar, which also transmits data to the ship in near real time. The Double Eagle Sarov system enables operators to identify underwater objects effectively and place explosive charges beneath them. The same purpose is served by the Głuptak vehicles, inspection systems developed at Gdańsk University of Technology (PG) that can, if necessary, be converted into kamikaze drones. In addition, the Pipe Tracking system, integrated with Hugin, facilitates surveys of pipelines laid on the seabed. The ships are defended against surface and aerial attacks by the rapid-fire OSU-35K naval gun, while the previously mentioned SCOT-M combat management system helps coordinate their weapons effectively.

“The Kormorans are a powerful tool for gathering data and countering threats in the lower hemisphere,” emphasizes Cdr Sławomir Góra. These capabilities are particularly important in light of the current threats in the Baltic Sea.

A Hub for Strategic Investment

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has significantly heightened tensions in this part of Europe. Numerous incidents have occurred in the Baltic Sea, resulting in damage to infrastructure vital to the West. NATO and individual member states have launched initiatives intended to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents, but the risks cannot be eliminated entirely. This is especially true given Russia’s recent intensification of hybrid operations targeting members of the North Atlantic Alliance. Various types of infrastructure that help countries in the region reduce their dependence on energy resources from the East appear to be particularly attractive targets for Russia. Consequently, any vessel capable of extensively monitoring the Baltic waters – and especially of examining what lies beneath the surface – is worth its weight in gold.

The introduction of additional Kormoran-class vessels will give the Polish Navy new capabilities. Crews of ships based in Gdynia will be able to focus more closely on the eastern part of the Polish coast, while the minehunters stationed in Świnoujście will take responsibility for its western section. From the perspective of Polish national interests, this is an exceptionally important area. “First, we have the LNG terminal here, which regularly receives tankers carrying liquefied natural gas. Second, the port of Świnoujście itself is being expanded as part of an investment project called Pomerania Cape. Among other things, the project involves creating a new approach channel nearly 70-km long,” Cdr Sławomir Góra points out. The Baltic Pipe – the subsea pipeline, which carries Norwegian gas to Poland, also runs near Świnoujście. Finally, the local naval base provides a convenient starting point for operations in the Danish Straits, the strategic passage connecting the Baltic Sea with the North Sea. Strengthening the base with new vessels is therefore good news for Poland’s allies as well.

Minesweepers To Be Changed

The Kormoran-class vessels have become a symbol of the transformation of Poland’s mine countermeasures forces. However, the changes underway extend beyond these ships alone. Modernization also covers the minesweepers serving with the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla (FOW). Some Project 207 vessels have received new engines manufactured by Germany’s MTU. Two have also been equipped with the Ukwiał and Głuptak underwater vehicles, designed to identify and destroy naval mines. “In addition, ORP Drużno will be fitted with a Gavia underwater vehicle and will also benefit from the Starlink satellite communications system,” Cdr Sławomir Góra announces. Two more minesweepers, ORP Resko and ORP Sarbsko, are currently undergoing overhauls at the Nauta shipyard. They, too, will receive underwater vehicles – the V8M500 and Głuptak. They will also be able to carry Toczek explosive charges for destroying mines. “Magnetic minesweeping gear will be removed from these vessels. We will, however, retain contact minesweeping gear used to neutralize moored mines,” explains the commander of the 12th Minesweeper Squadron.

This type of sweeping gear cuts the moorings that secure mines to the seabed. Once the mines rise to the surface, they are detonated by gunfire from the ship. At one point, it seemed that moored mines were becoming obsolete. The war in Ukraine has shown otherwise: both sides in the conflict are using this type of weapon. “Moored mines will probably remain in use for a long time because they are versatile. Unlike mines triggered by magnetic fields, they can be deployed even in waters with considerable depths,” Cdr Sławomir Góra concludes.

Mine countermeasures forces are currently the fastest-growing segment of the Polish Navy. Thanks to the Kormoran-class vessels, they have joined the ranks of the world’s leading forces in this field. Moreover, they have become far more versatile than before. The capabilities of these new ships are no longer limited to conventional mine warfare. They are, instead, versatile platforms for surveying the seabed – a capability of considerable importance for safeguarding the maritime interests of both Poland and NATO.