Historic submarine transported by road to Naval Museum in Gdynia
The ORP Sokol submarine was transported through the streets of Poland's northern coastal city of Gdynia to its new permanent home at the city's Naval Museum on Thursday, the deputy director of the Naval Museum told PAP.
Aleksander Gosk said that the operation to transport the historic vessel began after 11am and ended around 3.30pm. The route from Kosciuszko Square to the museum followed Topolowa Avenue, the surface of which was protected with special panels.
"Despite the nasty weather the operation took place without any major problems. Currently, the submarine is located on the boulevard, parallel to the site where it will finally be positioned," Gosk said.
ORP Sokol was moved to the museum on Self Propelled Modular Transporters (SPTMs).
"The ship will be placed on special supports, which will make it possible to remove the modules from under the vessel. Then the assembly of the structure will begin, which will enable the Sokol to be placed in the prepared basin," Gosk added.
Thursday is the seventh day of transporting the ORP Sokol submarine from the PGZ Shipyard in Gdynia to the Naval Museum. Last Friday, the ship was placed on a special pontoon and transported by sea from the shipyard to the Pomorskie Quay.
Over the weekend, the vessel moored at the quay attracted great numbers of residents and tourists visiting the city.
After the whole operation is completed, museum staff will begin preparing the ship for tours.
Sokol, a Kobben-class submarine build by Germany in 1966 for the Norwegian Navy and later donated to Poland, will be ready to receive its first visitors in June of next year. Sokol served in the Polish Navy in 2002-2018. (PAP)
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