SSG No 20 - Shipgaz
SSG No 20 - Shipgaz
SSG No 20 - Shipgaz
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PORTS & MARITIME LOGISTICS<br />
Boom in economy<br />
and in container turnover<br />
Picture taken from the lighthouse in the port of Kolobrzeg.<br />
The growth of the economy (6,7 per<br />
cent) that Poland experienced during<br />
the fi rst half of <strong>20</strong>07 was considerably<br />
higher than expected. Some people<br />
maintain that it was driven by the construction<br />
sector.<br />
POLAND<br />
This can however not be the only reason.<br />
There has also been a rise in cargo turnover<br />
and changes in the cargo structure of the<br />
Polish ports.<br />
There must be some other motors of<br />
economic growth apart from the construction<br />
sector. The container revolution taking<br />
place in Polish ports right now is an<br />
obvious evidence for that.<br />
The number of containers handled in<br />
Polish ports increases by 15–16 per cent<br />
each year (world average is 9.2–11 per<br />
cent). A report released by Actia Forum<br />
in the fi rst half of <strong>20</strong>07 shows that Polish<br />
ports are experiencing the fastest development<br />
of all Baltic ports.<br />
Container handling grew fastest in<br />
Szczecin-Swinoujscie (+16.4 per cent) and<br />
Gdynia (+15.2 per cent). According to the<br />
analysts, container handling will increase<br />
by 244 per cent during the next ten years.<br />
In the same period, capacity is to be tripled,<br />
from 938,000 TEU (<strong>20</strong> feet containers)<br />
to 2,978,000 TEU. Only Russian ports<br />
will face a faster development. In the years<br />
<strong>20</strong>04–<strong>20</strong>08, total investments will reach<br />
approximately PLN 500 million (EUR 135<br />
million). Russian investments are to be<br />
four times higher.<br />
Growing capacity<br />
Altogether Polish ports handled 582,000<br />
TEU in <strong>20</strong>06. Only in Gdynia, which has<br />
the largest container turnover, 461,<strong>20</strong>0 TEU<br />
were handled. Thanks to the investments<br />
during the next fi ve years, the capacity of<br />
Polish ports will become considerably high-<br />
er. Polish ports will be able to handle eight<br />
million containers a year. Within the fi rst<br />
fi ve years after the investments have been<br />
completed the ports will be able to handle<br />
four times more containers than now.<br />
Ports are trying to invest as much as possible<br />
since the analysts predict that commercial<br />
trade with East European nations<br />
will expand. Today the capacity in Polish<br />
ports is approximately 1.7 million containers<br />
a year, which is a lot more than the current<br />
demand. Within the following years<br />
the capacity is to be four times bigger.<br />
The container turnover in Gdynia grew<br />
by 15 per cent in <strong>20</strong>06 and the increase is<br />
accelerating this year. At three terminals<br />
in Gdynia – Baltic Container Terminal<br />
(BCT), Gdynia Container Terminal and<br />
Baltic General Cargo Terminal – 288,<strong>20</strong>0<br />
TEU have been handled in the fi rst half of<br />
<strong>20</strong>07, a 37 per cent growth in comparison<br />
with the fi rst half of <strong>20</strong>06.<br />
Regular investments in all terminals in<br />
62 SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • OCTOBER 26, <strong>20</strong>07<br />
LESZEK SZyMANSKI