2020 was a year of huge challenges, but despite the global economic slowdown resulting from the pandemic, it turned out to be record-breaking for the Port of Gdynia. The pace of investments did not slow down, key decisions were made for the further development of the port and a record result was achieved in transhipments, giving an increase of 2.9% compared to the previous year without a pandemic.

This result places the Port of Gdynia in the second position in the TOP 10 PORTS ON THE BALTIC SEA IN 2020, in the overall growth dynamics compared to the previous year.

TOP 10 PORTS IN THE BALTIC SEA 2020

The dynamics of grain transshipment growth is significant - in 12 months it amounted to 68.6%. The increase in container handling is also important - 0.9% per annum, which places the Port of Gdynia in the second position among the largest container ports in the Baltic Sea. This result gives credibility to the implementation of the largest investment since the creation of the port - the Outer Port.

The Outer Port for the next generations

The construction of the Outer Port is the most important project in the history of the Port of Gdynia since its construction. This project covers the construction of a new port pier, on which a container terminal will be located and infrastructure for other port functions, e.g. an installation port for the construction of offshore wind farms.

In February 2021 port autorities said „call” and opened the applications of firms interested in competitive dialogue in the project "Construction of the Outer Port at the Port of Gdynia". The bidders included:

• Meridiam Eastern Europe Investments 4 SAS and Gdynia Terminal Holding SAS
• Hutchison Ports Poland S.à r.l. and Port of Felixstowe Limited
• International Container Terminal Services Inc.
• Mota-Engil Central Europe PPP Road Spółka z o.o.

One tenderer will be selected in the PPP procedure, who will build and will be the operator of the Outer Port.

A number of investments in access and facilitating the operation of the future terminal are already underway. Current investments in the railway infrastructure at the Port of Gdynia and its hinterland amount to nearly EUR 400 million (over PLN 1.5 billion). The Port of Gdynia Authority signed an agreement on cooperation between the Gdynia Maritime Office in the design and construction of new breakwaters as an access infrastructure to the Port of Gdynia. The investment, worth over PLN 673 million, is a milestone in the construction of the Outer Port and the further development of the Port of Gdynia. The investment plans also include the construction of the Red Road, which will be the main junction connecting the Outer Port with the main national routes: A1 motorway, S6 expressway and S7 expressway. In the last quarter of 2020, the Port of Gdynia Authority together with the city of Gdynia agreed on the final route of this strategic artery. The construction of storage yards in the port's hinterland, which is currently underway, is also an element of the strategy and will serve as a logistic base for the Outer Port.

- We want to continue the vision of the builders, Tadeusz Wendy and Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski, so that the Port of Gdynia could be a generator of the country's economic development for the next decades - said Adam Meller, President of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

All investments are continued according to the schedule

The largest ones include "Dredging the fairway and internal waters of the Port of Gdynia" and "Reconstruction of the quays in the Port of Gdynia", construction of the Public Ferry Terminal and reconstruction of the railway infrastructure. The total value of infrastructure investments within the Port of Gdynia is over PLN 4 billion.

New Public Ferry Terminal

Completion of works on the construction of the New Public Ferry Terminal in a new, functional and prestigious location is approaching rapidly. The new facility will be able to handle 240 m long ferries and will provide shorter service times, thanks to which the port will gain new shipowners in the developing ro-ro segment. With the implementation of the investment as part of sustainable development and the #greenport idea, from 2021 it will be possible to power ships from the land, which will result in a total reduction of exhaust gases.

The terminal building, warehouse and passenger gallery are already being completed, and installation works are currently underway. Construction works related to the reconstruction of the Polish Quay and the ro-ro ramp have been completed. The construction of the inrun flyover with bituminous surfaces is completed, the equipment is currently being installed, and concrete surfaces are being made. The railway works have been completely completed, and approx. 90% of the road surfaces of the squares and car parks have been completed.

- We adjust the quality of infrastructure to the growing expectations of the market. Investments improve the competitive position of the port in the Baltic Sea basin. Thanks to the investments we are implementing, we are strengthening Poland's role in the trans-European transport network - said Jacek Sadaj, Vice President for Infrastructure and Asset Management at the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

- The financial results for 2020 confirm the excellent condition of the company. We have the ability to generate capital that serves the further development of the port in the interests of all its customers. The very good results of the Port of Gdansk Authority SA are proof of the high quality of services offered by port terminals and the effect of the Company's investment policy - said Maciej Bąk, Vice-President for Finance at the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

#LetsSharethegood

Having a real impact on the surrounding environment, at a particularly special time, which is the global pandemic, the Company's authorities initiated the "Let's Share Good" campaign, the idea of which is to help the local community, hospitals and entrepreneurs in the fight against an invisible enemy.

By the decision of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. the elderly from associations with which the PGA S.A. works, members of the World Association of the Home Army, with whom he has been cooperating for years, supporting statutory activities, as well as participants of the Warsaw Uprising living in Gdynia. Every day, meals, essentials and purchases are provided to those veterans who are at high risk and should not leave the house.

The Port of Gdynia Authority with the "Lighthouses of the Maritime Economy 2021" award from the GospodarkaMorska.pl portal

"Lighthouses of the Maritime Economy" is a cyclical award of the GospodarkaMorska.pl portal that distinguishes companies and people from the maritime industry. Every year, the Award Committee awards "Lanterns" in several categories. The Port of Gdynia Authority has won the award in the "Sea Ports, Sea Logistics" category.

- The award of such a prestigious award as "Lighthouse of the Maritime Economy 2021" by the Chapter of the GospodarkaMorska.pl portal is a great honor for the entire team of the Port of Gdynia Authority as well as for all terminals and contractors of the Gdynia port. I am convinced that our joint work will make this year equally successful for the Port of Gdynia – said Adam Meller, President of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

Award for outstanding results in many spheres of activity

- The justification for this year's choice are the outstanding results of the Port of Gdynia in many areas of activity at the same time. Despite the pandemic, the Port of Gdynia, as the few in the region and the only one in the country, recorded growth in 2020 and at the same time a record in transhipment. The Port Authority has proved to be equally effective in terms of ongoing investments, maintaining their pace, despite many difficulties resulting from the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Port of Gdynia has also demonstrated in such an important aspect today as corporate social responsibility. From the beginning of the pandemic, the Port of Gdynia Authority has been involved in helping to combat its consequences by purchasing medical equipment, helping the most needy, the elderly and veterans from the World Association of the Home Army - informs Mateusz Kowalewski, the publisher of GospodarkaMorska.pl.