Poland to Invest Over 230 Million Euros in Two New Vessels for Maritime Universities in Szczecin and Gdynia

Poland is preparing to renew part of its fleet dedicated to maritime training and oceanographic research, reports Faro de Vigo. The government has launched a program to build two new units that will replace the oceanographic vessel "Nawigator XXI" and the training ship "Dar Młodzieży," both of which have several decades of service behind them.

The oceanographic vessel "Nawigator XXI" belongs to the Maritime University of Szczecin and has nearly 30 years of service. Meanwhile, the training ship "Dar Młodzieży", from the Maritime University of Gdynia, was built in 1981.

The renewal of both units is part of the government program "Shipbuilding for Maritime Universities 2025-2029," approved in September 2025. The aim is to modernize the resources used by the universities, as the current ones show significant wear and have become outdated in relation to the current needs for training and research.

The new oceanographic vessel will measure 93 meters in length and will have the capacity to accommodate 86 people, including crew, researchers, and other expedition members. The new training ship will measure 112 meters in length, although more details are currently unknown.

Both institutions have already opened the bidding process, which shipyards from across the European Union can participate in. In total, the program has a budget of nearly 230 million euros.

Photo: U. M. Gdynia