The Marco Polo Baltic Conference in Gdansk

28.09.2009

Named after famous Venetian traveller and merchant, Marco Polo, the European program for environmentally friendly intermodal freight transportation has been developing. Since its implementation in 2003, over 100 projects comprising nearly 420 companies have received the EU financial support. On the initiative of the Marshall of Pomeranian Voivodship, the Ministry of Infrastructure with the European Commission's Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation and the Tricity ports - on 23rd and 24th September 2009 - held Marco Polo II Conference, this time in Gdansk. It is believed that in the nearest future the approved projects will generate both economic and environmental and social benefits worth over 1 billion Euros.

I am honoured - said in his welcoming speech the Marshall of Pomeranian Voivodship, Jan Kozlowski - to host in Gdansk the representatives of ports, logistic and consulting companies, local and regional authorities, international organizations and media from 17 European counties. With the infrastructure of two large maritime ports, the Pomeranian Voivodship by all means seems to be the right host of the conference promoting community instruments for intermodal freight transport. It is the only alternative for the traditional road transport due to both the need to protect the natural environment and the safety of traffic.

The congestion on the European roads and increasing threats to the environment made resolving the problem priority issue in the EU. Shifting transport from the road to rail, inland and seafaring waterways falls into Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 2009, currently being approved, based on the concept of transport infrastructure sustainable development, and land and maritime transport integration.

Port of Gdansk representative, Julian Skelnik - in his speech on current possibilities related to freight flow services and development prospects - recognized the Port of Gdansk as the natural interchange of the most significant transport routes in this area of the Baltic. Apart from excellent hydro-navigational conditions and more dynamically developing Deepwater Container Terminal, Gdansk benefits from Brussels decisions. The European Union recognized modernization of E-65 and CE-65 railway lines as TEN-T priority projects. Those connections constitute integral part of Baltic-Adriatic Corridor (Gdansk - Warsaw - Brno / Bratislava - Vienna - Bologna). In the nearest future, within the facilities of container terminal in Gdansk port, large logistic and distribution centre will be developed for door-to-door connections. The service is to apply advanced IT systems, i.e. intelligent transport systems. More and more port connection services are provided by independent railway carriers such as PCC Rail Containers, CTL Logistics, Polzug and PKP Cargo. With the use of the EU funds, this transport development will be strengthened by the project focused on the improvement of rail accessibility providing the construction of a new bridge on Martwa Wisla with a two-track railway line and modernization of road and rail infrastructure within the Gorniczy Basin. Currently designed "Maritime Highways" projects offer the Tricity ports possibilities for further development of short distance seafaring services connecting them with other centres of the Baltic and North Sea Region.

The assessment of economic results of "New Ways to a Green Horizon" conference will be provided when the applications are verified. Already these days, however, when we listen to the first comments of the participants who emphasize high quality of speeches and discussions we can say that the Pomeranian and Polish beneficiaries can effectively use the possibilities offered by Marco Polo programme.