Key steps in the MUS vessel project: expert council, Investor's Project Team and first project insights shaping the future research and training ship.
Recent months have brought significant progress in the development of a new research and training vessel for the Maritime University of Szczecin (MUS). The project is part of a national programme to build modern ships for Polish maritime universities by 2029.
The team has already begun its work, holding initial meetings to define the project framework and priorities. Early discussions covered key technical aspects such as onboard systems, IT infrastructure and data management, as well as preliminary consultations with shipyards interested in participating in the tender.
To ensure the highest scientific and technological standards, a Scientific Advisory Council (SAC)has also been appointed. Composed of experts from leading research institutions and universities, the Council provides independent advice on the vessel’s concept, equipment and research capabilities. The SAC will play a key role in shaping solutions that meet the needs of a wide range of scientific disciplines.
During its inaugural meeting on March 23rd, held in a hybrid format, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure confirmed full governmental support for the project. The concept and planned functions of the vessel were presented, highlighting its interdisciplinary research potential and broad operational scope. The new MUS ship is expected to support diverse scientific activities, including polar research, and will feature mobile laboratory spaces and advanced data systems to enable complex, multi-area projects.
The cooperation between the Project Team and the Council has already resulted in initial findings regarding preferred research equipment and operational concepts. In the coming weeks, further analyses and recommendations will form the basis for detailed project specifications and the upcoming tender process.
Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin, Wojciech Ślączka, presented the vision for the new vessel:
The new ship is intended to be multifunctional. First and foremost, it will serve educational purposes, but also scientific and research ones, supporting the academic community in Poland and across Europe, and enabling the most advanced maritime research at sea. (…) It will be approximately 93 meters long and about 18 meters wide, with a draft of 6.5 to 7 meters. It will have unrestricted navigation capability, meaning it will be able to operate almost anywhere, including in polar regions, which allows the support of Polish research stations located at both poles.
During a short speech, Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka emphasized:
This new vessel will support the development of science and enable the acquisition of skills needed for work at sea. It will be a modern ship equipped with technologies for conducting research, including underwater robots. We will open a new chapter in the history of maritime science and research. We didn't have such a vessel in Poland to date. (…) There is no turning back — the funding has been secured, and we are starting the construction of the new ship.
| Two expert bodies have been appointed to provide support for the design and construction of the new ship
A dedicated Investor’s Project Team (IPT) has been established to coordinate the entire process on behalf of the University. Its responsibilities include preparing documentation, supervising timelines, budgets and quality, and supporting the future tender procedure for the design and construction of the vessel.The team has already begun its work, holding initial meetings to define the project framework and priorities. Early discussions covered key technical aspects such as onboard systems, IT infrastructure and data management, as well as preliminary consultations with shipyards interested in participating in the tender.
To ensure the highest scientific and technological standards, a Scientific Advisory Council (SAC)has also been appointed. Composed of experts from leading research institutions and universities, the Council provides independent advice on the vessel’s concept, equipment and research capabilities. The SAC will play a key role in shaping solutions that meet the needs of a wide range of scientific disciplines.
During its inaugural meeting on March 23rd, held in a hybrid format, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure confirmed full governmental support for the project. The concept and planned functions of the vessel were presented, highlighting its interdisciplinary research potential and broad operational scope. The new MUS ship is expected to support diverse scientific activities, including polar research, and will feature mobile laboratory spaces and advanced data systems to enable complex, multi-area projects.
The cooperation between the Project Team and the Council has already resulted in initial findings regarding preferred research equipment and operational concepts. In the coming weeks, further analyses and recommendations will form the basis for detailed project specifications and the upcoming tender process.
| MUS received initial funding
On 30 March 2026, Arkadiusz Marchewka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin signed an agreement granting the University the first allocation of funding for the design and construction of a new vessel.Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin, Wojciech Ślączka, presented the vision for the new vessel:
The new ship is intended to be multifunctional. First and foremost, it will serve educational purposes, but also scientific and research ones, supporting the academic community in Poland and across Europe, and enabling the most advanced maritime research at sea. (…) It will be approximately 93 meters long and about 18 meters wide, with a draft of 6.5 to 7 meters. It will have unrestricted navigation capability, meaning it will be able to operate almost anywhere, including in polar regions, which allows the support of Polish research stations located at both poles.During a short speech, Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka emphasized:
This new vessel will support the development of science and enable the acquisition of skills needed for work at sea. It will be a modern ship equipped with technologies for conducting research, including underwater robots. We will open a new chapter in the history of maritime science and research. We didn't have such a vessel in Poland to date. (…) There is no turning back — the funding has been secured, and we are starting the construction of the new ship.
| What will the Maritime University of Szczecin’s new vessel be like?
The new vessel, whose name will be selected through an open competition, will be fully adapted not only for student training but also for conducting specialized scientific research in areas such as hydrography, marine geology, offshore environments, and marine and ocean ecosystems. The ship will be equipped with modern, environmentally friendly propulsion systems, satellite navigation systems, underwater robots, and laboratories. It will be capable of carrying out missions far beyond the Baltic Sea, including in polar waters.
