Szczecin and Świnoujście ports joined European Federation of Inland Ports

Today the Ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście are the only Polish ports with the access to inland waterways. Photo: Port of Szczecin

On the 1st of September 2016, the Szczecin and Świnoujście ports became a new member of the European Federation of Inland Ports. This is the first ever Polish member in the EFIP.

The specific location of the ports in Szczecin and Świnoujście makes them complementary to each other. The port in Szczecin, located 68 km away from the sea, is accessible for vessels with draught up to 9,15 m. It offers services both to general cargo (containers, steel products, forest products and heavy lifts) and to bulk cargo (dry and liquid). In Świnoujście, the main activities take place in the terminal for dry bulk cargo and in the ferry terminal for connections to/from Sweden. Świnoujście also offers access for bigger vessels with draught up to 13,2 m. Both ports also offer services for agri-food products. The yearly turnover of the port complex amounts over 23 million tons.

The ports have also access to a well-developed hinterland transport system, since they are part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TENT-T).

For several years, the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority has been one of the largest investors utilising EU funding in the region. In the years 2014-2020 the Port Authority intends to carry out investments worth PLN 1.3 billion. Another PLN 2 billion is planned to improve the access to both ports.

New quays are built and existing ones are upgraded for handling larger vessels. Thanks to the development of port infrastructure in Szczecin, the main quays offering services to bulk and general cargo will have a depth of 12.5 m in the coming years. In Świnoujście, the depth will be 14,5 m. The ferry terminal in Świnoujście will be adapted to better serve intermodal transport.

– The accessibility of the Szczecin-Świnoujście port complex – the only Polish seaports – to inland shipping, which is regarded by the European Union as the most environment friendly one, is an undeniable asset – emphasizes Dariusz Słaboszewski, CEO of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority. – Such access to the inland water system of Western Europe has a special meaning for the service to the German market. Barges used for transit transport passing through Szczecin and Świnoujście go to major economic centres in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg. We hope that as a member of EFIP we can better promote to huge potential of the shipping capacity of the Oder River which is going to be improved as well.

– I am delighted to welcome the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority to EFIP as the first Polish member of our European Association on the Baltic-Adriatic corridor – EFIP President, Hans-Peter Hadorn says. – EFIP represents the interests of nearly 200 (inland) ports and supports multi-modal connectivity of ports to the hinterland. Therefore, thanks to their strategic location at the mouth of the Oder River and their ambition to untap the potential of the Oder River, I believe EFIP is the perfect platform for them to connect to other ports facing or having faced similar challenges.

– I am very pleased to welcome our first ever Polish member of strategic importance in the Baltic area – EFIP Director, Alexander van den Bosch adds. – I am looking forward to close cooperation with the colleagues from the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority on European affairs and especially on discussing and designing EU’s new transport and corridor policies. I am convinced that, together with the expertise and participation of Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority, we can promote on the EU-level the importance of strong and sustainable hinterland connectivity, multimodality and the potential of increased shipping capacity on the Oder River for the EU’s economy.

The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) brings together nearly 200 inland ports and port authorities in 17 countries of the European Union, Switzerland and Ukraine. EFIP also has an observer member in Serbia.

Since 1994, EFIP has been the voice of the inland ports in Europe. EFIP actively follows all developments in the field of EU policy of importance to inland ports and represents the inland ports vis-à-vis the European institutions and other international bodies. EFIP offers its members the possibility to exchange information, expertise and best practices with colleagues in other countries.

GL, rel (Szczecin-Świnoujście Ports, EFIP)