Polish-German consortium to build first of 7 new ships for Polish navy

A consortium of shipyard Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej (SMW) and German company B&V has received an order to build a new corvette for the Polish navy. The order, estimated to be worth between zl.620 million and zl.820 million, is due for completion next year. The navy has plans to equip its fleet with seven new corvettes by the end of 2012. Commenting on the biggest investment by the Polish navy in its history, spokesman Janusz Walczak said, "We have agreed to pay in installments, in line with the completion of specified phases of the project." Walczak said the navy hoped to receive a second ship as early as 2005. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) M.T.