Today at OT Port Gdynia, the partnership between the terminal and the new carrier, Lakeway Link, was officially inaugurated.

The event took place at the United States Quay in OT Port Gdynia, right beside the docked ro-ro vessel Lakeway Express, marking the launch of a new service between Gdynia and Södertälje, Sweden. This service is operated by the newly established shipping line, Lakeway Link.

Although the 153-meter-long Lakeway Express, painted in its distinctive green color, has been regularly departing from Gdynia to Sweden three times a week since May 21, the official welcome ceremony for the new client took place today, June 4, at OT Port Gdynia. The brief ceremony was attended by acting CEO of Lakeway Link Göran Söderdahl, Sales and Business Development Manager Stefan Sciancalepore, President of OT Port Gdynia Jerzy Majewski, President of OT Logistics Group Kamil Jedynak, and Vice President of the Port of Gdynia Authority Mirosław Czapiewski.

In their speeches, the attendees emphasized the importance of the new collaboration for both parties and the environment. Lakeway Link aims to transfer as much cargo as possible from roads to sea. This is why their first service connects Port Gdynia with Södertälje via Lake Mälaren. Göran Söderdahl highlighted that shifting part of the truck traffic between the two regions could positively impact road congestion. He also noted that a significant portion of Sweden's population resides in the Mälaren region, providing a solid business base for this connection.

Stefan Sciancalepore announced that this is just the beginning for Lakeway Link. The 153-meter ro-ro vessel Lakeway Express, purchased this year specifically for the Gdynia-Södertälje route, is just the start. The company plans to acquire additional vessels, new ones straight from the shipyard, designed to pass through the lock at Södertälje (currently under reconstruction) on Lake Mälaren, where Stockholm and Västerås, the home port of Lakeway Express, are located.

Mirosław Czapiewski, Vice President of the Port of Gdynia, presented the ship’s captain with a commemorative plaque bearing the port's logo. Kamil Jedynak, President of OT Group, spoke about the OT Port Gdynia terminal.

 "OT Port Gdynia is already the most versatile Polish maritime terminal with a handling capacity of nearly 5 million tons per year," said Jedynak. "The development of OT Port Gdynia is particularly important for the OT Logistics Group, especially in light of our recently announced strategy to become the most versatile operator offering a full logistics chain based on our port assets."

Jerzy Majewski, President of OT Port Gdynia, mentioned that discussions with Lakeway Link began in February 2023 and lasted almost a year. He added that both the terminal and the Port of Gdynia aim to develop ro-ro connections as one of the best options for fast and environmentally friendly cargo transport. This strategy aligns with Lakeway Link’s service, which aims to reduce the carbon footprint in transportation.

The official part of the ceremony concluded with a symbolic ribbon-cutting.

Following the speeches and ribbon-cutting, several dozen guests had the opportunity to board the ship and tour it with the crew members. The ro-ro Lakeway Express (previously named Miramar Express) was built in Germany in 1999 and purchased by the Swedish line in December 2023. The vessel briefly visited the Gdańsk Repair Shipyard for minor preparatory work. The ship is 153 meters long, with a gross tonnage of 10,471 tons and a deadweight of 7,438 tons. Its total loading line is 1,625 meters across three decks. The ship can use both traditional marine fuel and biofuel; currently, it operates on a blend containing 15% biofuel. It sails under the Swedish flag.