Investment projects in the port of Gdansk
A host of beneficiaries - from the Baltic to the Tatras

03.10.2012

The Maritime Office in Gdynia (MOG) has celebrated the completion of the eastern breakwater - phase I of the Project: "Modernisation of the entrance to the inner port in Gdansk", thus opening phase II: "Redevelopment of the fairway on the Dead Vistula and Motlawa". Acting in its capacity as the administrator of the sea regions of the Republic of Poland, MOG has become a beneficiary of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment Project 07.02.00-00-012/10. The scheduled cost of its implementation exceeds PLN 163 million, of which almost PLN 140 million will be covered by the European Union subsidy. These projects, however, go far beyond the benefits of just one entity.

The EU has approved that the Port of Gdansk is to become part of the Trans-European Transport Network No. VI, and acknowledged its key importance to the exchange of goods between Scandinavia and the countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. Despite the rising tonnage of vessels servicing the maritime transport and in addition to the ocean-going giant carriers calling at Gdansk, the "old", inner part of the port continues to maintain its strong position in the sea trade sector. The task that has been taken on by the Maritime Office in Gdynia, including the widening of the fairway and changing the structure of the breakwater training wall, will allow for the increase in the tonnage of vessels accommodated at the inner port quayside and will ensure the improved safety and security of vessels entering the Gdansk port. The direct benefits will also be felt by the world-renowned Gdansk Ship Repair Yard "Remontowa" and by other companies providing services to cruise ships and technical vessels.

A state-of-the-art 754-metre long breakwater structure, wave dispersion devices, a new service quayside and navigational signs are set to boost the competitive edge of the Gdansk port. This will result in further development of urban areas in the port vicinity, brining about new perspectives for Gdansk and for the Pomeranian region. Furthermore, the safe and upgraded infrastructure of access to the port facility will have an indirect effect on the entire trade exchange of goods exported and imported via the Port of Gdansk. Considering that the annual value of the cargo volume is more than PLN 100 billion, one can easily realize that it can generate profit to thousands of businesses in Poland and in Europe.

The announcement of launching the construction of a fairway on the Dead Vistula and the regulation of Plonie Canal embankments will contribute to the concept of restoring port operations in the areas where they discontinued during the last century. This development takes on a special meaning in the light of the recent information released by the Ministry of the Environment which made a list of PLN 3,3 billion worth projects aiming at the restoration of inland navigation on Polish rivers. Although the major and the most expensive ones refer to the Gliwicki Canal and to the Oder River Canal, the increasingly influential lobby supporting the restoration of the Vistula river navigation also gives hope to the port in Gdansk. Therefore, the investment project embarked on by the Maritime Office in Gdynia is not only devised to minimize the risk of flooding in the Zulawy region, but also corresponds well with the national project of providing the inland shipping technology as an alternative to motorways and railways. Moreover, it provides the largest port facility in Poland with another chance of expanding its intermodal shipping operations and increasing its significance for the national economy.

From the formal view point, therefore, the Maritime Office in Gdynia remains the sole beneficiary of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment. In effect, however, there is a whole host of beneficiaries profiting from the projects implemented by the Gdynia-based Maritime Office in the Port of Gdansk. Our intention is to strengthen the realisation of this fact among the Polish society and to pursue the idea that more than a thousand years ago inspired the founders of a port at the outlet of the Vistula river to the Baltic.

PGA SA PR Officer