22.11.2005

PROJECT PARTLY FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION SECTORAL OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME - TRANSPORT

Signing of the first implementation contract:
Improvement of access to the Port Free Zone in the Port of Gdansk

According to the recent press release by "Rzeczpospolita" daily - the compiled reports show that Poland only to a very limited extent takes advantage of the EU funds allocated to the implementation of submitted projects. The problem looks even worse when it comes the amount of these funds used in the area of transportation where as yet not a single Euro has been spent. However, the example of measures taken by the Port of Gdansk proves that this situation can be changed. On Friday, November 18, 2005, at the Gdansk City Hall, the implementation contract was signed relating to one of the projects prepared by the Port of Gdansk Authority SA with the participation of the City of Gdansk under the Sectoral Operational Programme - Transport. The contract was signed by: on behalf of the Port of Gdansk Authority SA - President of the Board Andrzej Kasprzak and Vice-President of the Board Andrzej Bojanowski, City Mayor of Gdansk Pawel Adamowicz, and on behalf of the "Doraco" Construction Corporation - Vice-Presidents of the Board Boguslaw Niklas and Przemyslaw Marszalkowski.

The work on the project preparation, obtaining the approval and allocation of the EU funds was carried out very dynamically in the Port, and on many levels appeared pioneering in nature due to a whole new range of experience connected with accession to the European Union. In April 2005, the Port of Gdansk Authority filed applications with the Ministry of Infrastructure Programming and Strategy Department for three investment projects involving port infrastructure (quays along with inner access roads and maneuvering-parking yards) owned by the Port of Gdansk Authority SA, as well as the public road system in the foreground of the Port's transshipment areas, managed by the Municipality of Gdansk. Aiming at the preparation and implementation of these projects, the Port of Gdansk Authority SA launched cooperation with the Municipality of Gdansk, based on principles stipulated in the agreement signed in April 2004.

The Port along with the Municipality of Gdansk applied for the allocation of funds from the European Regional Development Fund to three projects:

• Improvement of access to the Port Free Zone in the Port of Gdansk;
• Expansion of shore and road infrastructure at the Westerplatte Ferry Terminal;
• Access infrastructure to the area of Przemyslowe Quay.

This package used to include yet another project involving the redevelopment (enlargement) of the entrance to the Port of Gdansk, however, the beneficiary of this project is the Maritime Office in Gdynia.

In total, the amount of financial assistance from the ERDF has been estimated at EUR 31,5 million, i.e. 75% of the implementation costs, with the completion due by the end of 2007. On December 29, 2004, the approval was granted and on April 26, 2005, the contract signed on co-financing of the projects.

The project including access improvement to the Port Free Zone encompasses redevelopment of a 300-meter long WOC II Quay and construction of the tilting section of the Ro-Ro ramp, which combined with investment measures taken by the Port of Gdansk Authority SA since 2003 will enable simultaneous handling of two vessels at the WOC II Quay. Operational depth of the quay will reach 9 metres including the reinforced bed. The road approach to the quay will be made more efficient and parking-maneuvering grounds will be provided. The area of access roads along with maneuvering-parking yards will amount to 19 thou. m2. In the foreground of the Port Free Zone, on the area of nearly 9.5 thou. m2, work will be carried out on the traffic intersection Oliwska/Przemyslowa. Additionally, a junction with the railway line will be redeveloped.

Following the tender procedure, the construction contract is worth over PLN 45 million, of which the Municipality contribution amounts to slightly over PLN 5 million. The main contractor is a consortium headed by the "Doraco" Construction Corporation Ltd.

Accomplishment of the project will boost the capacity of the Port Free Zone and raise its accessibility by road. Consequently, it will bring about the enhanced competitiveness of the Port of Gdansk as the strategic hub in the North-South Trans-European Transport Corridor No 6, combining various modes of land transport (rail and road) with the international sea transport operating on the European and global scale.