Another Lakeway Link

Another milestone for sustainable freight transport between Poland and Sweden

The official opening of the new Lakeway Link ro-ro service between Gdynia and Södertälje took place on 4 June. This is a significant expansion of the Port of Gdynia’s offer towards efficient and more sustainable transport of goods between Poland and Sweden.

Lakeway Link AB is the only company offering regularly scheduled ro-ro transport for trailers and bulk cargo between Gdynia and Södertälje. The new liner connection will help to reduce the pressure of transport activities on the environment, relieving pressure on the road and rail network between the mainland and Scandinavia.

The line will be served by the 1999-built M/S Lakeway Express, with an overall length of 153.38 metres, a tonnage of 10,471 GT and a capacity of 1,625 linear metres or approximately 110 trailers. The vessel is capable of meeting the transport needs of semi-trailers, Project Cargo and MAFI cargo. The vessel will call at the OT Port Gdynia terminal and the Port of Södertälje on the Swedish side. The journey between the two destinations takes approximately 22 hours.

When the redevelopment of the Södertälje locks is completed in 2026, it is expected that the service will be extended to the port of Västerås, accessible via Lake Mälaren. The ro-ro vessel flies the Swedish flag and will homeport in Västerås, where Lakeway Link AB is based. M/S Lakeway Express will call at Gdynia three times a week according to the following schedule:

Tuesday      08:00-12:00

Thursday    11:00-15:00

Saturday     17:00-21:00.

“As one of the key ports in the Baltic region, the Port of Gdynia is continuously investing in the construction and modernisation of infrastructure, sustainable development and the introduction of innovative technological solutions. The new regular ro-ro shipping line between strategically located ports will strengthen the logistics network to and from destinations in Sweden and Norway, strengthening the competitive position of the Port of Gdynia. One of the effects of the arrival of the new shipping line will undoubtedly be a reduction in the carbon footprint resulting from the substitution of road transport for sea transport – and this is a very important aspect for the Port Authority accompanying many of the development activities undertaken,” says Piotr Gorzeński, President of the Board, Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

The launch of the new connection is a strengthening of the Port of Gdynia’s leadership position on the Polish ro-ro market and an expression of confidence on the part of the market for the professionalism of the OT PG terminal and the Port of Gdynia. It confirms the important role of the Port of Gdynia in the international transport network and justifies the need for infrastructure development in Basin V.