26.04.2002

To an increasingly larger extent port's business partners are expecting their cargoes to be stored in roofed warehouses. A growing need for supplying such facilities, as well as an increase in handling of vehicles and the related demand for storage grounds constitute the major objectives for the Port of Gdansk Authority SA applying to the Ministry of Finance for the extension of the Port Free Zone area at the Port of Gdansk. Recently the Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister - Marek Belka together with the Minister of Economy - Jacek Piechota have signed a suitable ordinance that will facilitate the enlargement of the Port Free Zone at the Port of Gdansk.

In the wake of the ordinance having been published in the Journal of Laws that is scheduled for the nearest two weeks and after the necessary upgrading work have been carried out - the hitherto existing grounds of the Port Free Zone will be extended by the Oliwskie Quay which is suited for general cargo handling and Szczecinskie Quay specializing in heavy general cargo and containers handling. The area of the Port Free Zone is to be extended by up to 56.2 ha (the previous area amounting to 33.5 ha).

The extension of the grounds of the Port Free Zone is not only a response to a constantly increasing turnover reported at the Port Free Zone of the Port of Gdansk (in 2001 at the quays of the Port Free Zone a total volume of 363 thousand tonnes of cargo had been handled with 181,976 tonnes amounting for seaborne containers inclusive of 115,721 tonnes of citrus fruit), but also comprises the preparation stage for the development of other forms of activities introduced in port free zones worldwide, such as batching, sorting or enriching of cargo.