Strong wind blamed for collision involving latest addition to the Polish navy

The latest and most modern warship in the Polish navy, the Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki, was yesterday involved in a collision with a smaller vessel moored in a military harbor in Gdynia. Naval command insists that the accident, which caused a hole in the hull of the small ship and the loss of a lot of fuel, was not serious. "There was a very strong wind, reaching 8 on the Beaufort scale, which pushed the warship into the other vessel," said navy spokesman Janusz Walczak. The Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki was bought by the Polish navy just two months ago. The estimated cost of the damage has not been revealed. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) A.K.