Poland’s Port of Gdynia, around 15km north of Gdansk on the country’s Baltic coast is competing with its neighbour for cargo volumes, as both ports ramp up their development programmes looking to capture hinterland cargoes.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Gdynia has ambitious plans to develop its port infrastructure to a modern container facility by 2028. Like its neighbour in Gdansk, Gdynia Port Authority will construct a new container terminal situated at the so-called Outer Port, an artificial area that will be built on reclaimed land from the sea. In comparison with the existing facilities, the new terminal will be 3.5m deeper at 17m, allowing the port to handle the largest container ships.
This project will cost PLN1.5 billion (US$400.81 million), bringing many benefits to the Polish port especially in terms of cargo volume. After launching the Outer Port, the container traffic in Gdynia is expected to increase to 2.5 million TEU. Currently, the Port of Gdynia Authority, is seeking to find a private partner to implement this crucial project.
Nevertheless, Gdynia said that all parties are welcome to apply to participate in the qualification procedure, with the deadline for the submission of bids scheduled for 29 January 2021.
Even before the development of the Outer Port, Gdynia has seen cargo volumes increase handling 905,000TEU in 2020 compared to 897,000TEU the previous year, both years are record highs for the Polish port.
Growth, this year was a real challenge for Gdynia due to the pandemic restrictions with the consequent economic recession, according to a port statement. However, BCT and GCT, the container terminals located at Polish port, succeeded in increasing volumes by 0.9% last year, while the 2019 figures were far higher, with throughput increasing 10.4% year-on-year.
Together with the Polish railway holding PKP S.A., its subsidiaries and local authorities, the port authority incorporated a dedicated company that will be responsible for the construction of the terminal and its operations in the future.
“We are constantly improving the quality of infrastructure to meet the requirements of the market. And 2020 was no different. Last year we paid great attention to the modernisation of railway tracks within the port area in a partnership with PKP PLK (Poland’s rail infrastructure manager). We also plan to establish a container facility at our hinterland, namely at Bydgoszcz Emilianowo railway station that is located in around 200km southwards from the port,” Jacek Sadaj, Vice President of the Board of the Port of Gdynia Authority told Container News.
Sadaj added that the port authority is continuing to deepen the internal basins close to the terminals and to reconstruct the quays. “These works will contribute to the improvement of safety and navigation parameters as well as allow larger vessels, with a length of up to 400m and a draught of up to 15m, to enter the port. Of course, our largest infrastructure project is the Outer Port that will open a new page in the history of Port of Gdynia,”[/s2If]
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