Topping out on the construction site of the hull hall at the PGZ Naval Shipyard in Gdynia!
The construction of the hull hall at the PGZ Naval Shipyard in Gdynia is now complete, which was celebrated today (11 December 2023) with a symbolic topping out ceremony. The facility will be 43 metres high and, including the roof-mounted ventilation unit, as high as 46 metres, making it the tallest hall in the Polish shipbuilding industry and one of the largest in Europe.
The topping out, which was hung today on the hull hall structure in accordance with building tradition, symbolises the achievement of the highest point of construction. Construction has been underway since March and the foundation stone was laid in June. The investor for this task is PGZ Naval Shipyard, and the general contractor is a consortium consisting of the companies NDI S.A., NDI SOPOT S.A. and Pekabex BET.
The tallest hull hall in Poland
As part of the contract concluded in March this year, a new hall is to be constructed in which the hulls of three ultra-modern frigates for the Polish Navy, which are being built under the Miecznik Programme, will be integrated. According to the project, the development area of the hall will be close to 6,000 m2. The height of the hall is 43 metres, and including the roof-mounted ventilation unit it is as much as 46 metres. The large gates will have similar dimensions: 43 metres high and 34 metres wide, and the cranes will be able to lift up to 100 tonnes. Such parameters make the hall the tallest facility of its kind in the Polish shipbuilding industry and one of the largest in Europe.
“I am very pleased that today we can celebrate together the topping out of the hull hall structure. This is a very important moment for construction people. I would like to thank everyone involved in this project,” said Małgorzata Winiarek-Gajewska, President of the Management Board of NDI Group. “The implementation schedule is very tight, that is why works are being carried out at full speed and we are trying to quickly solve all current problems.”
New production hall and extended quay
In addition to the hull hall, the general contractor is also building a production hall with an area of almost 5,000 m2, which will house all of the shipyard’s equipment departments and a four-storey office building. In addition, the consortium will extend the quay, internal roads, car parks and modernise the technical infrastructure at the PGZ Naval Shipyard.
Unique lifts on site
The pillars in axis 17 and the roof beams in axes 1 – 3 are currently being installed on site. The assembly of the gate machinery is also planned for the near future – delivery and integration of the components will take place later this year.
Soon the external staircase will be constructed, followed by the roof cladding on axes 3 – 15. In parallel with the construction works, the installation of the facade panels on the northern and southern walls is underway. Ventilation elements are installed inside the hall.
Interestingly, as many as four of the six 58-metre-high lifts available in the country are involved in the works at the PGZ Naval Shipyard in Gdynia. All work on this project is scheduled for completion in June next year. The value of the task is PLN 260 million net.
