During the debate on Poland’s transport strategy at the European Economic Congress in Katowice, the Minister of Infrastructure, Andrzej Adamczyk, stated that road and rail investments, as well as the development of transshipment infrastructure, will ensure that Polish ports will take priority over the Baltic Sea by 2030.
Sławomir Michalewski, Vice-President of the Port of Gdansk Authority for Finance, noted that even now the Gdansk port is the largest container port and the third largest transshipment port in the Baltic Sea.
A key element for the development of Polish ports is their connection to the railway network. The Minister of Infrastructure Andrzej Adamczyk reminded that a program worth PLN 5 billion is currently being implemented, the purpose of which is to lay new tracks, electrify and enable the service of even the longest freight trains by port complexes in the Tri-City, Świnoujście and Szczecin. The minister of infrastructure also emphasized the role of Polish ports in the future Via Carpatia transport corridor, connecting the ports of the Tri-City with ports in Greece, Romania and Bulgaria, and in the corridor running from Malmoe in Sweden through western Poland to Crete.
The deputy president of the Port of Gdansk, Sławomir Michalewski, added that the port itself is also investing in transport infrastructure, using EU funds to improve the condition of the fairway and the quay. The investments serve to increase the transshipment capacity, and the largest container ships in the world call at the port twice a week.
He also believes that the expansion of the railway infrastructure by PKP PLK may also help to increase the goods handled. The deputy president of the port Michalewski also claims that in 20 years it will be possible to look at the implementation of the transport work by Gdańsk on the largest Polish river, and the use of river roads is of great importance in the aspect of “green transport”. He also mentioned the opportunities created by handling trade in foreign neighbors in front of Polish ports.
Vice President Michalewski believes that the rapid development of the transit potential through Polish ports will provide more benefits for Poland. Sea transport already accounts for 80% of the world’s economy. Sławomir Michalewski also emphasized the role of investments in the creation of new intermodal terminals and the expansion of the existing ones.