New distribution structure for Polish market: Volvo Penta and Marineworks partnership develops
The Marineworks’ team
Volvo Penta is working with with Marineworks S.A. to establish a direct distribution model for propulsion solutions to shipyards and boatbuilders across Poland. The two companies already share over two decades of experience, with Marineworks as a Volvo Penta service partner.
This new development aims to strengthen Volvo Penta’s presence in one of Europe’s key marine manufacturing hubs – Poland – and marks a strategic evolution in the long-standing partnership between the companies.
As this partnership deepens, it reflects a broader trend: Poland’s marine industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with diesel engine technology at the heart of its progress.
Marine diesel at the core of sector growth
Over the past five years, Poland has emerged as a key maritime hub in the Baltic region. The country’s shipbuilding and ship repair sectors now contribute significant percentage of the national marine economy’s Gross Value Added (GVA), bolstered by a strong industrial legacy and a drive for technical excellence. This growth has been powered largely by the modernisation of propulsion systems—especially high-efficiency diesel and hybrid diesel-electric configurations.
Adam Zaborowski, CEO at Marineworks, attributes this momentum to a combination of local expertise and international collaboration.
“We’ve seen extraordinary transformation in the past five years,” he says. “The growth of the Polish marine sector is driven by targeted investment in efficient, low-emission diesel technology, strong international partnerships, and an agile response to global demand. Our cooperation with Volvo Penta marks a new chapter—bringing together global engine innovation and regional production strength.”
Hybridisation and strategic resilience
Looking ahead, Zaborowski expects Poland’s marine sector to double down on diesel engine innovation. The integration of hybrid systems and smart technologies is increasingly seen not just as regulatory compliance, but as a market advantage.
“Shipowners are asking for reliability and environmental responsibility in one package,” Zaborowski notes. “Modern marine diesel is no longer just about endurance — it’s about efficiency, compliance, and integration with smart systems.”
The geopolitical landscape has also had a major influence. The war in Ukraine has heightened awareness around energy security and maritime resilience. The majority of Poland’s energy imports now arrive via the Baltic Sea, and with growing NATO interest in regional security there is renewed urgency around developing vessels that are capable, durable, and strategically autonomous, Zaborowski continues. In this context, European-produced and serviced marine diesel engines are increasingly seen as critical infrastructure.
As Poland positions itself to support commercial, defence, and offshore wind marine activities, the demand for high-quality, domestically supported engine systems will continue to grow. The new cooperation between Marineworks and Volvo Penta directly addresses this need, reinforcing local capabilities while leveraging world-class engineering.
“The next five years will be defined by how quickly we can respond to technological and geopolitical challenges,” Zaborowski notes. “We are investing in the future of propulsion. Diesel is part of that future, especially when it’s clean, connected, and ready for hybrid evolution.”
Deeper partnership with Volvo Penta
Marineworks will now supply complete propulsion packages directly to OEMs in both the commercial and leisure segments. These packages will be available from the earliest stages of design and newbuild projects, streamlining delivery and integration for Polish shipyards.
“We’re proud to take this next step with Volvo Penta,” says Lukasz Szyca, sales director at Marineworks S.A. “This model allows us to better support the development of advanced vessels built in Poland, both from a technical and service standpoint. We see strong potential for the entire marine industry.”
Marineworks specialises in complete propulsion systems, including shaft lines, waterjets, sterndrives, IPS, saildrives, and more (full details are available on its website). It says its deep market knowledge, and technical expertise, position the company to meet the increasingly complex needs of serial production yards and specialised vessel manufacturers throughout the country.
The collaboration is also expected to improve access to Volvo Penta products and spare parts in Poland, while elevating aftersales service nationwide.
“We are pleased to announce this new distribution structure with Marineworks in Poland,” says Frank Abraham, head of marine at Volvo Penta for Central Europe. “This partnership strengthens our market presence and expands our capabilities in delivering propulsion systems and technical support to Polish customers.”
Both companies express confidence that this new chapter will bring tangible benefits to local clients and contribute to the continued growth of the Polish marine sector.
Earlier this month the Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation Volvo Group issued its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. The firm’s CEO hailed an overall “solid performance in an increasingly uncertain market.” Within the marine-focused Volvo Penta business, net sales decreased by 3 per cent year-on-year to SEK 5bn (£390m) in Q1 2025. Engine sales declined by 5 per cent while service revenues increased by 4 per cent.
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