Exclusive : Marek Grzybowski 3 questions for Maciej Bąk, Vice-President of Managing Board / Director for Finances

Port of Gdynia – a modern universal port

Introducing the technology. Apart from the most advanced technology and security guarantee, the system will also influence optimization of the loading and unloading processes through their automation

An exclusive interview for eBlue Economy by :Marek Grzybowski  

In the closed period of the first 4 months of 2021, the Port of Gdynia recorded growth of 6.7%. The  Port of Gdynia Authority is constantly carrying out investment works aimed at the development of infrastructure in the Gdynia Port Logistics Centre

Marek Grzybowski: What are the transshipments at the Port of Gdynia terminals in the first months of 2021? Is the market already rebuilt after a crash during a pandemic covid-19?

Maciej Bąk: The first months of 2021 proved to be very intensive for the Port of Gdynia terminals. In the closed period of the first 4 months of 2021, the Port of Gdynia recorded growth of 6.7%. This is a very good forecast for the rest of the year. In the analysed period, the Port of Gdynia recorded growth mainly in the cargo group of Oil and OilProducts+75.8%y y/y, Coal +20.8% y /y, General cargo +10.8% y/y, including an increase in container handling to the level of 313316 TEU, which means an increase of +10.79% y/ y

During the first four months of 2021, the cargo handling at the fuel terminal (Liquid Fuel Handling Terminal) in the Port of Gdynia grew by 57.5% – as compared to the period from January to April 2020, and by 181% in April 2021 (200 755.24 tons) as compared to the result of April 2020 (71 434.52 tonnes). This year promises to be record-breaking – which confirms that the economy is getting better after the year of the pandemic. Already over 1 million tonnes of fuels have been handled this year by the PERN fuel depot at the Port of Gdynia, whereas in recent years such a result was achieved only in the middle of July. The record was broken in the middle of May

All the above data, as well as the observed trends, indicate that the ongoing investments are justified. The systematic growth that we have observed in the recent history of the Port of Gdynia guarantees that the undertaking carried out and planned will be well used

Marek Grzybowski: The Port of Gdynia is carrying out a number of investments. I am asking for the most important ones

Maciej Bąk: The annual growth, as well as good forecasts for the coming years, are a strong argument for investments in infra and suprastructure of the Port of Gdynia in order to remain competitive.

The most important infrastructure investment at the moment is the new Public Ferry Terminal. This is the largest project in nearly 50 years at the Port of Gdynia, whose general contractor is Korporacja Budowlana DORACO Sp. z o.o. The investment is being carried out on an area of 6 hectares. The historic Polskie Quay was demolished and the entire quay line was newly constructed.

The Port of Gdynia will be able to accept vessels with a length of up to 240 m, i.e. the target size of serviced ferries related to the conditions of the Baltic market. An important aspect of the new Public Ferry Terminal will be the possibility of powering the ferries during their stop. This is in line with the idea of the so-called “green port”. This solution completely eliminates the emission of exhaust fumes during the stay of ferries at the quay.

The increase in seaport cargo handling is increasingly related to the potential of intermodal transport, which in the coming years will become a priority branch of cargo transportation both in Poland and in Europe. The growing volume of cargo handling makes it necessary to build logistic facilities. With this in mind, the Port of Gdynia Authority is constantly carrying out investment works aimed at the development of infrastructure in the Gdynia Port Logistics Centre. 

 One of the most important ongoing investment tasks is a comprehensive conceptual design of land development for the Western Port with an area of about 30 ha, together with the construction of manoeuvring and storage yards on an area of about 20 ha – an element of the Logistics Centre, including the construction of an intermodal terminal.

Marek Grzybowski: The Port of Gdynia introduces a number of innovations in its area. What innovations improve the competitiveness of the port and improve access to the port for ships?

Maciej Bąk:. The assembly of a GBAS-RTK measurement system is another step forward to the total implementation of the most secure guidance system for vessels. In terms of the versatility of transhipped goods, the Port of Gdynia is the first European port with this type of precise system for defining vessel location up to a few centimetres. The next system implementation stage will be arrangements with the Maritime Office in Gdynia regarding the installation of the transmitter module on the Harbour Master’s Office building and implementation of the central control server.

The system will assist pilots in the most difficult manoeuvring operations of the largest vessels that presently call at the port. The Port of Gdynia will be able to apply for the IMO certificate in two years from introducing the technology

 Apart from the most advanced technology and security guarantee, the system will also influence optimization of the loading and unloading processes through their automation. Thanks to the system port operations will be even more efficient and the employees will have less workload. Also, surveyors will also be able to take advantage of the technology implemented at the Port of Gdynia. Once the station is reported to the Surveyor-General of Poland, the signal may also be shared to be used in land measurements.