The Przylądek Pomerania terminal will be built in Świnoujście: two million TEUs per year, deep-water, and a dual civilian and military function.

La Poland has launched one of the largest infrastructure investments in its recent history with the opening of the construction site of the new deep sea port of Przylądek Pomerania, destined to arise in Swinoujscie, on the north-western coast of the country. The project will require an investment of approximately 10 billion zloty, equivalent to over 2,3 billion euros, and aims to profoundly transform Poland's role in maritime trade in the Baltic Sea, while strengthening the logistical resilience of the entire region.

The new container terminal will be built directly on the open sea, eliminating many of the operational constraints that characterize many Baltic ports. The project includes a quay approximately 1,3 kilometers long, depths up to 17 meters and a total surface area of ​​approximately 186 hectares, dimensions that will allow the docking of the largest container ships currently used on the main intercontinental routes.

Once completed, the infrastructure will be able to handle up to 2 million TEUs per yearThe TEU, equivalent to a standard twenty-foot container, is the international unit of measurement used to assess container terminal capacity. For Poland, this means significantly increasing its domestic cargo handling capacity without relying exclusively on North Sea ports or other European hubs.

The start of the works represents the operational phase of a project path developed in recent years by the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure together withPort Authority of Szczecin and Świnoujście, with the aim of creating an infrastructure designed to support the growth of the national economy for several decades.

A new maritime gateway for Central and Eastern Europe

In recent years, Poland has seen steady growth in the volumes handled by its commercial ports. The expansion of the manufacturing industry, increased exports, and the progressive strengthening of rail connections with Central Europe have enhanced the country's logistical role, necessitating further expansion of port infrastructure.

The new Świnoujście terminal was created precisely to accommodate this evolution. Its geographical position allows for rapid connection between the Baltic coast and the markets of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and the economies of Central Europe, reducing transportation times and costs for numerous industrial supply chains.

The port will be integrated with the national rail and highway networks, facilitating the transfer of containers to the hinterland via intermodal transport. This approach will reduce reliance on road transport alone and improve the efficiency of the entire logistics chain.

For the Polish government, the project also represents an investment in national competitiveness. Increased port capacity means attracting new intercontinental shipping lines, increasing high-value logistics services, and strengthening Poland's role as a distribution hub for Eastern European markets.

Port technologies designed to reduce emissions and consumption

Alongside the size of the infrastructure, particular attention was paid to technological and environmental aspects. The terminal will be designed to accommodate handling systems powered primarily by electricity, reducing the use of traditional diesel-powered equipment used in container ports.

The equipment also includes the system of shore power, Also known as cold ironing, which allows docked vessels to turn off their auxiliary engines and connect directly to the shore-side power grid. This solution helps reduce local emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide during loading and unloading operations.

The entire terminal will also be equipped for highly automated logistics operations. Computerized container traffic control systems, digital movement monitoring, and activity planning will optimize quay utilization and reduce vessel dwell time in port.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, these features should allow the new airport to meet the environmental and operational standards required by future European transport networks, which are increasingly geared towards reducing emissions and integrating different transport modes.

An infrastructure with growing geopolitical relevance

The investment also takes on a significance that goes beyond the economy. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the security of the country's strategic infrastructure Baltic Sea It has become a priority for many countries in the region. Ports, energy terminals, and maritime links are now considered essential both for the continuity of trade and for the logistical capacity of Western alliances.

The new port was therefore designed with features that will also allow it to be used by military facilities when necessary. This dual civilian and strategic function reflects an increasingly evident trend in large European port infrastructures, which are called upon to ensure

The Government's expectations and the work schedule

During the ceremony marking the start of the works, the Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak He called Pomeranian Port the most significant port investment ever undertaken in Poland. According to the minister, the project should increase the competitiveness of the national economy, strengthen the country's logistical independence, and create the conditions for attracting new trade routes to the Baltics.

"We are undertaking the largest port investment in Poland's history. This project will strengthen our economy, our security, and the country's position on key European trade routes."

said Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure.

Even the Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka He emphasized that the new terminal represents an infrastructure projected to generate economic benefits well beyond the port sector. The expansion of logistics activities should foster new industrial investments, increase skilled employment, and stimulate the development of businesses operating in cargo handling, transportation, and related services.

The timetable foresees a construction divided into several phases, with the completion of the entire complex expected around 2030Meanwhile, dredging work will continue, as will the construction of new docks, railway infrastructure, and technological systems for container flow management.

Environmental protests and the confrontation with Germany

As with many major coastal projects, the project is not without criticism. Several Polish and German environmental organizations have expressed concern about the potential impact of the work on the ecosystems of the Szczecin Lagoon, protected coastal areas, and marine habitats in the Western Baltic.

Among the most discussed aspects are seabed dredging, the construction of maritime protection works, and increased shipping traffic. According to environmental groups, these interventions could alter the hydrodynamic balance of the area and impact coastal biodiversity, which is why further investigation and environmental monitoring have been requested.

The Polish government, however, maintains that the project was developed in compliance with procedures established by national and European legislation and that environmental mitigation measures were integrated from the design stage. The balancing of economic needs and ecosystem protection will therefore continue to inform the next phases of construction.

Competition between European airports enters a new phase

The launch of Przylądek Pomerania reflects a broader shift in the geography of European logistics. For decades, much of the container traffic to Central Europe passed through major North Sea hubs like Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Antwerp, from which the goods continued by rail or road to inland markets.

In recent years, however, the economic growth of Central and Eastern Europe and the progressive strengthening of Baltic infrastructure are changing this balance. The Polish ports of Gdańsk, Gdynia and now Swinoujscie They aim to intercept a growing share of intercontinental maritime connections, reducing distribution times to numerous Central European countries.

The availability of deep waters is one of the most important elements of this strategy. Modern container ships frequently exceed twenty thousand TEU capacity and require increasingly specialized infrastructure. Without adequate drafts and large quays, ports risk progressively losing competitiveness compared to their main international competitors.

In this scenario, Przylądek Pomerania is not just a new container terminal, but a key component of Poland's strategy to consolidate its role in European logistics. If the timeline is met, by the end of the decade the Baltics will have an additional hub capable of accommodating the largest container ships currently in operation, helping to reshape the trade balance in Northern and Central and Eastern Europe, not only by increasing port capacity but also by strengthening the resilience of supply networks in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.

Przylądek Pomerania: Construction begins on Poland's new maritime hub.

Przylądek Pomerania: Construction begins on Poland's new maritime hub.

Here are three insights that might interest you:

Dakhla, the Atlantic port that is reshaping the future of the Sahara
Port Nimara, the marina linking superyachts and development in Anguilla
Multi-megawatt charging: electric vehicles arrive in European ports