Page 62 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024

POLAND UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

❷ What are the upcoming infra- Funds for the Infrastructure, Climate and Envi-
structure projects for the ports ronment programme, funds to the amount of
of Gdynia, Gdansk, and Świnoujś- PLN 150 million are allocated for the imple-
cie-Szczecin? mentation of projects related to adaptation
Among the most critical investments included to climate change for maritime offices. In
in the programme are the construction of the addition to investments in the construction
Deepwater Container Terminal in Świnoujście, of strips and breakwaters, activities are also
the modernisation of the Świnoujście-Szczecin carried out to supply sand to beaches that
fairway to a depth of 12.5 m, and the terminal have suffered as a result of violent storms or
Floating Storage Regasification Unit FSRU. severe erosion phenomena. This is a pressing
The Deepwater Container Terminal in Świnou- problem, so the Ministry of Infrastructure is
jście is a strategic task of the Ministry of Infra- preparing a multi-annual programme dedi-
structure, as it is one of the most ambitious cated to this issue.
projects implemented as part of the maritime
economy. The localisation decision has just ❹ How do you see Poland’s role in
been issued by the voivodeship [province- Ed.] improving Europe’s transport sys-
The terminal will be capable of handling up tem?
to 2 million TEU per year, simultaneously ser- Polish seaports of crucial importance to
vicing two ships, one with a length of 400 m the national economy (i.e., Gdańsk, Gdynia,
and one of 200 m. The investment can be Szczecin and Świnoujście) are part of the
implemented in two stages. The terminal will TEN-T core network. Further measures are
be equipped with low-emission equipment being taken to ensure the smooth flow of
following the highest ecological ‘green ter- cargo within multimodal transport chains.
Polish seaports minal’ standards. The terminal in Świnoujście Great emphasis is placed on the better inte-
are also used by will constitute a dual-use infrastructure, i.e. gration of ports with their hinterland. It is
entities located a civilian infrastructure that can be used to worth noting that Polish seaports are also
in, among others, handle military cargo. used by entities located in, among others, the
the Czech Republic In the case of the Port of Gdansk, the planned Czech Republic and Slovakia. For this reason,
and Slovakia. construction of a terminal to serve offshore it is in the European interest to ensure that
For this reason, wind projects deserves to be emphasised. An they operate properly. This is closely linked to
it is in the FSRU terminal will also be launched soon in the construction of the Intermodal Terminal
European interest the Gulf of Gdansk. As for the Port of Gdynia, in Świnoujście and the construction of the
to ensure that they its dredging is currently of pivotal importance. C-E 59 railway line. C—E 59 is 492 km long
operate properly. This investment will make Gdynia a deepwater and is a freight traffic branch from line E 59
port. Wrocław – Poznań – Szczecin, intended for
passenger traffic.
Climate action has been highlighted Moreover, we have two major public shipown-
❸ as a priority for Poland. What infra- ers in Poland: the first is Unity Line, which is
structure-related steps have been one of the largest Baltic shipowners whose
taken in that direction? ferries connect Poland with Sweden. The
Due to the 2022 ecological disaster, the Oder company was established in May 1994 and
River was highly polluted. The Ministry is also is now part of the Polska Żegluga Morska
responsible for reacting to and preventing the capital group. The second, Polska Żegluga
pollution of Polish inland waters. For many Bałtycka S.A., is one of the leading ferry oper-
years, maritime offices have been performing ators in the Baltic Sea.
tasks related to the protection of the seashore
against the risk of flooding from the sea. ❺ Is there interest in the maritime pro-
This requires investments in protection meas- fessions among Poland’s younger
ures such as breakwaters, strips, underwater generation? Has the Ministry of
thresholds, and groynes. For example, on the Infrastructure implemented initi-
Hel Peninsula, the Maritime Office in Gdynia atives to attract and retain young
implemented a project worth approximately people in careers associated with
PLN 75 million, including PLN 63.8 million ports, shipyards, etc.?
in EU funding, involving the construction of The government, along with partners such
144 groynes. Each year, approximately PLN as businesses and associations, is making
40 million is allocated from the state budget efforts to better understand future skill
for these purposes. Also, under the European needs and to identify solutions to be imple-

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