Agreement with the investor of the container terminal until the end of October

The Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority announces that plans to build a deepwater container terminal in Świnoujście are on track. Work on the project is underway by both the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority and the consortium of QTerminals (Qatar) and DEME Consessions (Belgium), which will be responsible for financing, construction, and operation of the investment.

Let us recall that over two years ago (July 10, 2023), the Seaports Authority signed a preliminary 30-year lease agreement with the consortium for land in the Świnoujście outer port.

Last Tuesday (July 29), an annex to the preliminary agreement was signed, setting the deadline for concluding the final agreement by October 31, 2025. The decision is the result of ongoing cooperation with partners, as well as a response to the need to provide each party with adequate time to conclude the agreement.

– Both the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority and the consortium members are determined and in agreement regarding the further implementation of the deepwater terminal project – says Jarosław Siergiej, president of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority.

Charles RW Meaby from QTerminals emphasises that the investment in the construction of the Baltic West Terminal means business development in a new key location.

– We are constantly working on this project to sign the final agreement with the Ports Authority by the end of October – he adds.

The Port Authority (ZMPSiŚ) emphasizes that the construction of a deepwater container terminal remains a priority and strategic investment for the Polish state, strengthening the country's broadly understood security. The terminal is scheduled for completion at the turn of 2028 and 2029. It will handle container ships up to 400 meters in length, which will enter via a new 65-kilometer-long, 17-meter-deep approach channel.

Meanwhile, a hearing has been scheduled for Monday (August 4th) during which the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw is expected to issue a ruling on the appeal filed by environmental organizations against the environmental decision for this project. The case is being heard in response to a complaint from the German organization Lebensraum Vorpommern. They argue, among other things, that the project will result in increased ship traffic, increased noise, pollutant emissions, the risk of accidents and spills, as well as the dangers associated with deepening the seabed, which may contain unexploded ordnance from World War II. As previously reported, on July 21st of this year, the Provincial Administrative Court suspended the immediate enforcement of the environmental decision (until August 4th).

(ek)