The Port of Gdynia welcomed a container ship nearly 400 metres long for the first time

On 24 July, the Port of Gdynia welcomed a 399-metre-long container ship for the first time in its history. The MSC Venice is the largest vessel ever to call at the Port of Gdynia. This call was made possible by an infrastructure investment programme implemented in recent years, which has prepared the Port of Gdynia to handle Baltmax-class vessels – the largest container ships capable of operating in the Baltic Sea.

In order for a vessel of this size to enter the Port of Gdynia safely, it was necessary to adapt the entire infrastructure leading from the port entrance to the berthing point at the container terminal. In recent years, the inner entrance to the port has been widened from 100 to 140 metres, the inner waterways have been dredged to a depth of 15.9 metres, the quays along the Port Canal have been rebuilt, Turntable No. 2 has been extended to a diameter of 480 metres, and the Hel Quay has been rebuilt to enable the safe mooring and handling of the largest container ships operating in the Baltic Sea. This combination of investments now enables the port to handle vessels up to 400 metres in length and with a draught of up to 14.5 metres.

“The development of Polish ports is of direct importance to the competitiveness of the economy and the security of supply chains. The call of the MSC Venice at Gdynia shows that the funds allocated to the development of port infrastructure are yielding tangible results. Strong, modern ports mean greater opportunities for Polish businesses and a stronger position for Poland in international trade,” says Arkadiusz Marchewka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure.

“The call of the MSC Venice is of historic significance for the Port of Gdynia. This is the first time we have handled a container ship nearly 400 metres long. We have been preparing for this over recent years by consistently modernising our port infrastructure. Today, it is clear just how much the port’s actual operational capabilities have increased. Gdynia can now safely accommodate the largest container ships operating in the Baltic Sea, offering shipowners and logistics operators a new standard of service and strengthening its position in international supply chains,” says Piotr Gorzeński, CEO of the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A.

“The arrival of the MSC Venice marks a landmark moment for BCT and the Port of Gdynia. It confirms the validity of the significant investments made by all parties involved, which have enabled the port to handle a new generation of larger container ships. This event also strengthens Gdynia’s position as one of the key deep-water ports supporting the development of the Polish economy,” adds Patrick Chan, Chairman of the Management Board of BCT.

The MSC Venice is 399 metres long and 54 metres wide. The vessel, with a capacity of 18,755 TEU, has moored at the Hel Quay. The vessel arrived as part of the BRITANNIA service; it will depart from Gdynia on 27 July and sail to Klaipeda, Le Havre, Antwerp and London, from where it will set off on its journey to Asia (Colombo, Port Klang, Singapore, Ningbo, Shanghai, Nansha, Yantian and Vung Tau).