The Polish Navy (Marynarka Wojenna) took delivery of its second Kormoran II mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV), ORP Albatros (602), during a ceremony held at Remontowa Shipbuilding on 12 August. ORP Albatros (602) was laid down on 18 September 2018, and launched on 19 October 2019 at Remontowa Shipbuilding yard in Gda?sk. Her non-magnetic 58.5 meter hull is made from austenitic steel. She has a standard displacement of 830 tons. Kormoran employs sophisticated mine countermeasures including underwater drones. The ship will enter service in the 13 Minesweeper Squadron belonging to 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla.
Kormoran II (Cormorant Class) – officially project 258, mine hunting type of vessels in building for the Polish Navy. The 2011 Defense Budget included a single vessel of this class.[citation needed] It was launched on 4 September 2015 and was predicted to enter service late 2016. Two more ships have been planned. Ships are built by Remontowa Shipbuilding Gda?sk (acting as the prime contractor), Naval Shipyard Gdynia, O?rodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej (OBR CTM), and the CTO Ship Design and Research Centre. A lead ship ORP Kormoran (601) was commissioned on 28 November 2017.
The main tasks of the Kormoran II type units include searching, classification, identification and fighting sea mines, identification of fairways, guiding units through mine hazard waters, putting mines and remote control of self-propelled anti-mine platforms. Project 258 vessels are 58.5 m long and 10.3 m wide. The draft is 2.7 meters and the displacement is 830 tons. Contrary to previous construction concepts of this type, the hull was made of non-magnetic steel instead of plastic. The advantage of the steel hull was, among other things, lower operating costs and higher fire resistance. The hull itself is divided into 33 sections.
The ship’s superstructure has two floors in the fore section and one floor in the stern. The main deck has full bulwark. It is powered by two combustion engines with a capacity of 1,360 hp each, which allows a maximum speed of 15 knots. The main armament of the ship is a 35 mm KDA type cannon that works with the ZGS-158 optoelectronic head. The ship is equipped with the Integrated Combat System manufactured and supplied by CTM, including: SCOT combat management system, passive defense system, underwater observation system, including SHL-101 / TM and SHL-300 sonar stations and a system of remotely and wirelessly fired charges explosives for destroying sea mines “Toczek”.
