Dredging of the inner port areas of the Port of Gdynia

The implementation of the task ‘Reconstruction of the inner port areas of the Port of Gdynia to a depth of 16 m’ is a key stage of the long-term investments carried out by the Port of Gdynia Authority carried out as part of the investment task ‘Dredging of the access fairway and inner port areas of the Port of Gdynia – stages I and III and reconstruction of quays in the Port of Gdynia – stages II and III’.

The project is implemented on the basis of the Subsidy Agreement signed on 28.12.2018.

The overall implementation of the project belongs to two entities – in terms of the dredging of the Port of Gdynia inner basins and the reconstruction of quays in the Port, it is carried out by ZMPG S.A. On the other hand, the dredging of the access fairway is the responsibility of the Maritime Office in Gdynia, which is a separate beneficiary (separate Subsidy Contract).

One of the main elements of the project is the execution of dredging and backfilling works together with construction and telecommunication works, which are executed on the basis of the contract signed on 14.07.2022 with the selected contractor – Jan De Nul NV based in Belgium. The contract will include the following works:

• reconstruction of inner port areas of the Port of Gdynia to the depth of -16 m, including construction and dismantling of bottom reinforcement,
• securing underwater pipelines for the purpose of redevelopment of internal basins to the depth of -16 m,
• reconstruction of the bottom reinforcement of the tethered test site at Pier III for the purposes of redevelopment of the inner port areas to the depth of -16 m,
• relocation of underwater cables in inner port areas of the Port of Gdynia.

Following the completion of the reconstruction of the Norweskie, Słowackie, Włoskie oraz Portowe Quays, and the shortening of the Northern Pilot Groyne, dredging works have commenced along the entire length of the Harbour Channel, from the Main Entrance to the Puckie Quay, to a target depth of -16.0m. Inner port areas III, IV and V will also be dredged. As part of the works, strengthening of the bottom is being carried out at Szwedzkie Quay, Bulgarskie/Puckie Quay and over fuel pipelines located in the bottom in the area of Avanport, and telecom cables running under the bottom of the Port Channel are being relocated. The work will involve the excavation of approximately 4 million m3 of material, which will be deposited on a marine flap.

The contractor, Belgian company Jan De Nul, started the work in July 2022 and has now completed the removal of potentially hazardous objects from the seabed and has begun dredging at the quays and associated seabed reinforcement. At the moment, drilling is taking place under the bottom of the Harbour Canal to relay underwater telecom cables. Approximately 100 people, five diving teams and numerous floating equipment are working each day on the construction site throughout the harbour. The work is being carried out on a continuous 24/7 basis, depending on the type of work.

The entire works should be completed in 16 months.

The task aims to enable the handling of much larger vessels, i.e. up to 400m in length, which will significantly contribute to an increase in cargo handling in the Port of Gdynia, in terms of containers, bulk and general cargo.

The implementation of the project is a response to the dynamic development of the maritime transport market. The last few years have been a period of a kind of race, sometimes unjustified, in the increase in the size of container ships. The largest container ships in the world, some 400 m long, 59 m wide and with a maximum draught of 16 m, are calling at the Baltic Sea in increasing numbers. Hence the need for development projects to meet this potential, bringing a new quality to the port by enabling it to handle typically ocean-going vessels of up to 20,000 TEU and a draught of up to -16m.

The investment also allows for a number of additional positive effects, among which the most important are:

• reduction in the negative impact on the environment,
• reduced time of cargo transportation in the transport chain,
• making optimum use of previous investments,
• strengthening the basis for the continued development of the port, including the transition to the next technological steps (external ports).

The task is being carried out under the support of funds from the European Union, under Grant Agreement No. POIS.03.02.00-00-0070/18-00 of 28.12.2018.