The Port of Gdansk at the RORO 2004 exhibition

31.05.2004

On May 25-27, the 17^th edition was held of the "RoRo 2004 Exhibition and Conference - the International RoRo Event from Ship to Shore", with the Port of Gdansk Authority SA taking part as an exhibitor. The Exhibition, that this year was hosted by a Swedish town of Goeteborg, is held in a two-year cycle with a different location at each time.

RoRo 2004 gathered a number of 120 exhibitors from such courtiers as Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, England, France, Israel and Poland, who offered modern equipment and services for the ro-ro industry in its extended dimension. The event was attended by representatives of over 20 European ports such as Antwerp, Turku, Rauma, Bilbao, Gent, Hanko, Karlshamn, Trelleborg, London, Kotka, Goeteborg, Rostock. Representing the Polish ports during the Exhibition, there were the Port of Gdansk Authority SA, the Authority of Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports and BTDG Gdynia that also hosted at their booth delegates of the Port of Gdynia Authority SA. Besides the ports representatives, present at the event were aditionally shipping lines delegates, of which such companies as Grimaldi Group, "K" Line European Sea Highway Services GmbH, Finnlines Plc, terminals operators and shipping agents.

The Port of Gdansk Authority SA held the exhibition booth with an area of 24 m² that provided the meeting point for prospective business partners. On behalf of the Port of Gdansk acted: President of the Board of the Port of Gdansk Authority SA - Andrzej Kasprzak, President of the Port of Gdansk Cargo Logistics Ltd - Marek Frackowski, Head of the Shipping Policy and Tariffs Department - Danuta Bilat, Shipping Specialist - Jerzy Bakowski, and Promotion Specialist - Magdalena Obszarska.

Talks were held with shipowners, ro-ro cargo owners, ports representatives, as well as suppliers of equipment and numerous shipping magazines with a view to seeking publicity for the Port of Gdansk and, particularly, for the Westerplatte Ferry Terminal and the Port Free Zone. Prevailing among the participants was the opinion that due to the insufficient advertising of the Exhibition by the organizers, the occasion failed to amply fulfil the weight of expectations that those taking part in it placed on the event, which was evidenced by a limited turnout at the Exhibition, as well as the absence of shippers delegates and of a large number of major shipowners operating the ro-ro shipping and ferry services.

The Exhibition was accompanied by a conference on the development of motorways of the sea, vehicles shipment and port infrastructure.

The consecutive edition of the Exhibition - RoRo 2006 - is scheduled to take place, the first time round, in Gent, Belgium.