Finnish steel central to Polish wharf upgrade

“We chose steel piles from SSAB for one main reason: their quality,” says Tomasz Rybarczyk, group sites manager with Keller Polska Sp. z o.o., the subcontractor responsible for soil improvement and building the combi wall. “They are crucial for the future stability of the quay. The high quality of the components translates directly to a safer work environment. An important feature is that they are delivered with interlocks.”

Bartosz Michalski, a construction manager with Budimex, the general contractor, appreciates the products from SSAB and the cooperation with the company.

“We decided on a rather unusual solution – steel piles from SSAB and sheet piles from another supplier,” he says. “All the 437 piles were shipped from SSAB’s Oulainen Works in Finland directly to the wharf in six tranches, which made it easier for us to precisely follow the schedule.”

When Keller completes its part of the project, Budimex will continue with steel and concrete work, followed by the installation of cranes and other harbour equipment.

At the same time, the canal will be dredged and deepened from current three to five metres to 11.5 metres, which will enable cargo ships as long as 250 metres to enter the harbour.

The new quay will be operational in 2020 and will enable further development of the Port of Gdańsk.

By Jake Frith