Port of Gdańsk completes major quay reconstruction

The Port of Gdańsk has completed a PLN 98 million (€22.5 million) reconstruction of its Ore Quay, replacing deteriorating infrastructure with a new pile-supported structure that can accommodate larger vessels and heavier cargo-handling equipment.

The project rebuilt 232.5m of Rudowe III Quay and a further 18m section of Administracyjne Quay. The new quay uses a slab structure supported on a reinforced-concrete pile grid, with a combined steel sheet-pile front wall.

Marine works included dredging part of the Mining Basin to 11.2m, compared with depths of 6-10m previously. The upgraded quay can accommodate vessels with draughts of up to 10.6m and carrying capacities of up to 35,000 DWT.

A 265m railway track was installed, alongside new access roads, drainage, water supply, lighting and electrical infrastructure. The quay is equipped with point fenders and mooring cones rated to 100 tonnes, and its electrical design allows for future installation of onshore power supply for berthed vessels.

The structure has also been designed to accommodate further increases in capacity. Subject to regulatory approvals, technical depth could eventually reach 12m, permissible depth 13.5m and allowable quay loading 40kN/m².

The upgraded facility can handle large self-propelled cargo equipment, including Liebherr LHM 550 and Mantsinen 300 machines.

“Each modernised quay increases the development potential of the Port of Gdansk,” said Dorota Pać, president of the Port of Gdańsk Authority. “By investing in the Inner Port, we are creating a modern infrastructure capable of meeting the requirements of modern logistics and shipping.”

The original quay, built in the 1930s and 1940s, had undergone only ad hoc repairs and part of it was closed to ship handling in 2019 because of its deteriorating steel sheet-pile wall.