28.12.2012 Views

SSG No 20 - Shipgaz

SSG No 20 - Shipgaz

SSG No 20 - Shipgaz

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

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

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!