SSG No 20 - Shipgaz

PORTS & MARITIME LOGISTICS
Boom in economy
and in container turnover
Picture taken from the lighthouse in the port of Kolobrzeg.
The growth of the economy (6,7 per
cent) that Poland experienced during
the fi rst half of 2007 was considerably
higher than expected. Some people
maintain that it was driven by the construction
sector.
POLAND
This can however not be the only reason.
There has also been a rise in cargo turnover
and changes in the cargo structure of the
Polish ports.
There must be some other motors of
economic growth apart from the construction
sector. The container revolution taking
place in Polish ports right now is an
obvious evidence for that.
The number of containers handled in
Polish ports increases by 15–16 per cent
each year (world average is 9.2–11 per
cent). A report released by Actia Forum
in the fi rst half of 2007 shows that Polish
ports are experiencing the fastest development
of all Baltic ports.
Container handling grew fastest in
Szczecin-Swinoujscie (+16.4 per cent) and
Gdynia (+15.2 per cent). According to the
analysts, container handling will increase
by 244 per cent during the next ten years.
In the same period, capacity is to be tripled,
from 938,000 TEU (20 feet containers)
to 2,978,000 TEU. Only Russian ports
will face a faster development. In the years
2004–2008, total investments will reach
approximately PLN 500 million (EUR 135
million). Russian investments are to be
four times higher.
Growing capacity
Altogether Polish ports handled 582,000
TEU in 2006. Only in Gdynia, which has
the largest container turnover, 461,200 TEU
were handled. Thanks to the investments
during the next fi ve years, the capacity of
Polish ports will become considerably high-
er. Polish ports will be able to handle eight
million containers a year. Within the fi rst
fi ve years after the investments have been
completed the ports will be able to handle
four times more containers than now.
Ports are trying to invest as much as possible
since the analysts predict that commercial
trade with East European nations
will expand. Today the capacity in Polish
ports is approximately 1.7 million containers
a year, which is a lot more than the current
demand. Within the following years
the capacity is to be four times bigger.
The container turnover in Gdynia grew
by 15 per cent in 2006 and the increase is
accelerating this year. At three terminals
in Gdynia – Baltic Container Terminal
(BCT), Gdynia Container Terminal and
Baltic General Cargo Terminal – 288,200
TEU have been handled in the fi rst half of
2007, a 37 per cent growth in comparison
with the fi rst half of 2006.
Regular investments in all terminals in
62 SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • OCTOBER 26, 2007
LESZEK SZyMANSKI