Port of Gdynia plans EUR 242 mln in investment by 2020

The Port of Gdynia plans to spend PLN 1 billion (EUR 242million) on investments by 2020, the company announced on Monday.

During the investment period, a new turntable will be built as well as a public ferry terminal. The port basins will be deepened and berths will be rebuilt.

During a press conference on Monday, port president Adam Meller underscored that for the port, "the time has come for great investments and great changes." He announced that during the years 2018 to 2020, PLN 1 billion worth of investments are planned, of which PLN 345 million (EUR 83.4 million) will be carried out this year.

Among the most important investments are the construction of a public ferry terminal, rebuilding of the Hel Berth, building a turntable, and increasing the entrance to the port from 100 metres to 140 metres as well as deepening the port basins. The aim of the planned investments is to strengthen the port's position.

Deputy President of the Port of Gdynia Management Board Grzegorz Dyrmo announced that in the second quarter of this year, construction of the turntable will be completed, which will enable vessels to be turned before entering the port. Thanks to the new turntable, which has a diameter almost 100 metres more than the one currently in use, ships of up to 400 metres in length will be able to sail into the port, or almost 100 metres longer than at present. Work on widening the port entrance is scheduled for completion this year.

The internal port basins will also be deepened to 16 metres. The work, valued at PLN 136 million (EUR 32.9 million) is to be finished by 2020. At the end of 2017, preparations were started for the construction of a passenger ferry terminal. The investment, worth PLN 180 million (EUR 43.5 million) is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2021.

Meanwhile the Hel I and Hel II berths are to be rebuilt by the end of 2021 at a cost of around PLN 200 million (EUR 48.3 million). By the middle of next year, three other berths - the Italian, Slovakian and Norwegian - are to be secured. PLN 65 million (EUR 15.7 million) has been earmarked for that purpose.  

Dyrmo announced that EU co-financing is foreseen for 50-60 percent of the investment costs.