More than 2.1 million TEUs (20-foot containers) were handled by DCT Gdansk (DCT) in 2021, an increase of around 5 per cent, making it a record year for the largest container terminal on the Baltic Sea. This was despite the challenges for ports and the logistics industry caused by the ongoing pandemic.
The emergence of a true Baltic Hub
DCT reached the mark of 2 million TEUs handled in December 2019, just before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. It thus became the first terminal in the Baltic Sea to cross the 2 million TEUs handled mark in a single year. In 2020, due to supply chain disruptions, the result fell slightly below 2 million (1.91 million TEUs), but by the end of April 2020 a rebound was evident, and by autumn 2020 volumes were back to 2019 levels.
– Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic causing turmoil in global logistics and supply chains, we handled more than 2,092,432 TEUs in 2021. This achievement proves the confidence of our customers in DCT Gdansk combined with DCT’s high service level and our excellent location. This result shows once again that we are a true Baltic Sea transportation hub and gateway to Central and Eastern Europe – says Charles Baker, CEO of DCT Gdansk.
In July 2021, the Port of Gdansk announced that DCT Gdansk will construct a third deepwater berth, the so-called Baltic Hub 3, which upon completion will increase DCT’s handling capacity by 1.5 million TEU to a total of 4.5 million TEU annually.
The investment, which is worth 450 million euros (about 2 billion zlotys), will involve the construction of a quay (located to the east of the existing T1 quay) with a length of 717 m, a depth of 18 m and a 36-hectare site, which is scheduled to open in 2024.
– Thanks to this investment, we are able to steadily improve our performance, which makes us very happy. Moreover, we have completed the expansion of the railroad siding with three additional tracks – DCT now has seven tracks, each 750 meters long. We will continue to invest in the technological development of our terminal – adds Charles Baker.
Setting new records
DCT Gdansk is the only deepwater terminal on the Baltic Sea with a berth depth of 17 meters, enabling it to handle the largest containers in the world. The terminal’s operations have contributed to the Port of Gdansk rise to first place in the ranking of container ports in the entire Baltic Sea in the first half of 2021.
In April last year, DCT also broke the record of 15 million containers handled since its establishment in 2007, and in July it recorded the record of the number of TEUs handled in one ship call (20,207 TEUs). In November, the terminal handled a record number of vessels in a month (70).
source: PortalMorski.pl
