Polish Flag to Be Raised on Bursztyn Unity Ferry

The raising of the Polish flag aboard the new M/F Bursztyn Unity ferry will send a message to Poland and the international community that the country is strengthening its presence at sea and in the Baltic region, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. The vessel’s official christening and flag-raising ceremony will take place in Szczecin on Wednesday, November 11.

Speaking ahead of a government meeting, Tusk confirmed that he would attend the ceremony and highlighted the importance of the new ferry for the development of Poland’s maritime transport sector.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Bursztyn Unity was built at Gdańska Stocznia Remontowa, a Polish shipyard, and would be operated by a Polish shipping company.

According to Tusk, the raising of the Polish national flag aboard the vessel will symbolise the country’s ambitions to expand its maritime activities and strengthen its position in the Baltic Sea.

He also pointed to the significance of holding the ceremony on November 11, Poland’s National Independence Day, describing the new ferry as a special gift to the Polish people on the national holiday.

Bursztyn Unity prepares to enter service

The new ferry arrived in Szczecin from Świnoujście on Monday, November 9, and is currently berthed at Wały Chrobrego, where preparations are underway for the official christening ceremony.

M/F Bursztyn Unity is a modern ro-pax ferry measuring nearly 200 metres in length. Designed to carry both passengers and wheeled cargo, the vessel has capacity for more than 250 trucks and trailers, as well as 400 passengers.

The ferry is scheduled to begin regular operations on November 18, serving the route between Świnoujście in Poland and Ystad in Sweden.

Before entering commercial service, Bursztyn Unity will also welcome visitors aboard during open days scheduled for November 12–14.

Part of a major Polish ferry fleet renewal programme

Bursztyn Unity is the second of three modern ferries being built for the Polish fleet under the POLSCA Baltic Ferries brand, established through the integration of Unity Line and Polferries.

Its sister vessel, M/F Jantar Unity, entered service on the Baltic Sea in January 2026. A third ferry is expected to join the fleet in 2029.

The vessels form part of a long-term programme aimed at modernising Poland’s ferry fleet and strengthening the competitiveness of Polish shipping operators in the Baltic market.

The programme was launched in 2017, while the contract for the construction of three ferries at Gdańska Stocznia Remontowa was signed in 2021.

In 2025, the Polish government allocated PLN 1.3 billion to support the completion of the project.

The upcoming christening and flag-raising ceremony in Szczecin will therefore mark not only another milestone in the introduction of Bursztyn Unity into service but also an important symbolic moment for Poland’s maritime industry.