2020 was a demanding year, overshadowed by the coronavirus the world was facing. However, despite these difficult circumstances, investments in the ports of Szczecin-Świnoujście have just entered the field implementation phase and are proceeding according to the schedule.

This is a historic multi-billion dollar investment offensive. It is implemented by the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority as well as other entities, including the Maritime Office in Szczecin, PKP PLK and GDDKiA. Thanks to these projects, the ports will change their face, becoming a modern, environmentally friendly place with good communication with the hinterland for doing business.

The modernization of the fairway is an investment of the Maritime Office in Szczecin worth approximately PLN 1.4 billion. It includes its deepening to 12.5 m over a distance of approx. 62 km, with a simultaneous widening to 100 m and, among others, reconstruction of coastal slopes, deepening and widening of turntables for ships, as well as the construction of additional hydrotechnical structures in the form of two artificial islands. This project will significantly improve the port offer, allowing larger vessels to call at the port of Szczecin, and, consequently, to obtain additional contractors and cargo.

In connection with this project, two large investments of the ZMPSiŚ were launched in the port of Szczecin in the area of the Kashubian Basin and the Dębicki Canal. The company signed contracts with their contractors: for "Improving access to the port in Szczecin in the area of Kanał Dębicki" with a consortium of companies NDI Sp. z o.o. and NDI SOPOT S.A., for "Improving access to the Port of Szczecin in the area of the Kashubian Basin" with the Gdańsk Construction Corporation DORACO.

In Świnoujście, at the Ferry Terminal, we have combined two ferry stands into one large, currently the largest in the Baltic Sea. Ultimately, it will be 270 meters long. Thanks to this, it will be possible to handle the largest ferries that have ever sailed in this area. ZMPSiŚ SA creates an intermodal terminal there, where rail transport in relation to ferries will play a key role, hence additional railway tracks are built and the existing ones are modernized. A parking lot for 278 trucks is also under construction.

The largest construction works in history to modernize rail access to ports are underway in Szczecin and Świnoujście. After the works are finished, longer and heavier trains will go to the ports. Freight trains will be able to have a length of up to 750 meters with an axle load of 21kN.

At the LNG terminal in Świnoujście, the construction of the third tank and another quay has started.

At ZMPSiŚ SA, proceedings are underway to select a contractor and later operator of a deepwater container terminal. Those interested may submit their offers on January 28, 2021. The company is looking for a company that will design, finance and implement the project and will be the operator of the terminal. On December 15, 2020, the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority received government funding dedicated to improving the access infrastructure to the future deepwater container terminal in Świnoujście. The investment will be financed with bonds issued by the Minister of Finance, Funds and Regional Policy. The value of these bonds is PLN one billion, of which over PLN 328 million was received by ZMPSiŚ SA in the form of a capital increase. The bonds are zero-coupon (series ON0423). The ministry has set the deadline for their purchase on April 25, 2023. This is a breakthrough event for this project, which is also the implementation of the provisions of the Act of autumn 2019 on investments in the construction of external ports.

If all these investment plans are achieved, in 2050 the Szczecin-Świnoujście port complex will have the potential to handle almost three times more cargo than today.

Care for the natural environment

In 2020, ecology played a very important role in the investment activities of ZMPSiŚ SA. A number of initiatives were carried out in this area, such as the installation of habitat platforms for the white-tailed eagle in three locations in the Trzebież and Gryfino forest districts, together with the monitoring of their effectiveness for the next 10 years. In the port of Szczecin in Ostrów Grabowski, a sediment field and a bunker have been created, where the materials left over from cleaning the drains and rainwater sewage system will be stored and utilized. ZMPSiŚ invests in ordering the sewage management and equipping new areas in the areas of the Szczecin and Świnoujście ports with sanitary and rainwater discharge infrastructure.

A socially responsible company

ZMPSiŚ SA, fulfilling the role of corporate social responsibility, in 2020 became involved in helping medical services in the fight against coronavirus. He provided financial support for over a million zlotys, thanks to which medical equipment was purchased, i.e. respirators, cardiomonitors, infusion pumps and an ambulance, as well as equipment for early diagnosis of coronavirus and two Plasmair Sentinel devices for automatic deactivation and elimination in the air in the presence of patients and healthcare professionals a wide range of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, yeasts and molds.

In addition, in 2020, as much as possible, the Company implemented the sponsorship plan, supporting sports clubs, cultural initiatives and initiatives undertaken by schools. An example of this is the Complex of Maritime Schools in Świnoujście educating, among others future ship mechanics and navigators. For the received funds, he modernized the navigation laboratory, thus expanding his didactic and workshop base. ZMPSiŚ also equipped a computer lab at Primary School No. 51 in Szczecin. For this purpose, the Company provided ten computer sets with cabling, mice and keyboards, and one laser printer. In 2020, the educational program "Days of the port at school" was also continued, promoting knowledge about the maritime economy, addressed to primary and secondary school students.

For activities in the area of ​​CSR, ZMPSiŚ SA was awarded by economists from the University of Szczecin with the title of "Equal company" and by the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin.

The port jubilee was inaugurated with two concerts by the Szczecin chamber orchestra Baltic Neopolis Orchestra, which performed the greatest works from the repertoire of the Viennese Classics. The musical events took place on January 18 at the Art Trafostacja in Szczecin and on January 19 at the Municipal Cultural Center in Świnoujście. In turn, on July 18, 2020 in the port of Szczecin, the greatest celebrities of Polish popular music, headed by Beata Kozidrak, performed on the stage of the "Great Midsummer Night Concert". The concert was conducted by Tomasz Kammel, and it was broadcast by TV Two.

On the occasion of the jubilee, on the initiative of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority, a jubilee publication entitled “Yesterday and today the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście. 70 years of Polish management in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście ”. Port topics are presented on nearly 200 pages, where apart from rich in terms of content, attractive graphics, maps and photos are presented. The author of the publication is a well-known Szczecin historian and guide, Ryszard Kotla. The publisher of the book is Zapol Sobczyk Sp. j. The circulation is 500 copies. The publication is not available for sale. It serves the promotional and marketing purposes of ZMPSiŚ SA.

Blood donation campaigns are a tradition. This year's motto was "70 liters of blood for the 70th anniversary". ZMPSiŚ employees and friends of the port donated more than 75.5 liters of blood. This jubilee action was marked by a record attendance, as as many as 36 volunteers applied. As a result, over 13 liters of blood were collected, thus the assumed goal was achieved. Currently, port workers have 75.5 liters of this valuable gift to their credit.

Fully operational port

Despite the demanding pandemic circumstances, the Szczecin-Świnoujście port complex remained fully operational in 2020 in all areas and everything indicates that it will end the year with an almost identical result as in 2019, oscillating around 31-32 million tonnes of goods handled, which in the times of crisis can be considered a success. The diversity and universal character of both ports resulted in this.


Other port events 2020

24/02/2020 - Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority together with the Board of Education in Szczecin signed an agreement to popularize knowledge about the maritime economy among children and adolescents.

5.03.2020 - Meeting in Szczecin of representatives of the Agreement on the cooperation of Reloading Terminal Operators and Logistics Centers of Central and Eastern Europe.

May 14, 2020 - Sappers safely removed an unexploded bomb from World War II from the area of the Ferry Terminal in Świnoujście. It was found by workers working on its extension.

2.06.2020 - ZMPSiŚ joined the COVID-19 declaration of the largest ports in the world.

June 25, 2020 - The verification committees have confirmed the high level of security in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście

4-5.07.2020 - concert and premiere of the album "Sound Trail of the Odra" by Michał Zygmunt as part of the exhibition "The Birth of Polish Szczecin".

3.07.2020 - The hundredth gas delivery to the LNG terminal.

September 3-4, 2020 - Webinar of the Baltic Ports Organization with the participation of ZMPSiŚ.

8/10/2020 - The ship "Da Chang", on which TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine, or tunnel boring machine) has arrived, called at the port in Świnoujście.

8/10/2020 - Military exercises "Wargacz 20" in the port of Szczecin.

2.11.2020 - The Port Community System pilot program has started in ports.

5.11.2020 - The first LNG bunkering in the port of Szczecin.