During the Polish Ports 2030+ Congress in Sopot (23rd-24th of June 2026) the energy wave chat focused on the role of port infrastructure in the development of offshore wind energy and Poland's energy security. Participants stressed that installation and service ports are among the key pillars of the country's entire offshore wind programme.

The discussion, moderated by Jakub Budzyński, President of the Polish Offshore Wind Energy Society, featured Michał Śmigielski, President of Morska Agencja Gdynia, Sebastian Wionczek, Managing Director of Świnoujście Offshore Terminal, Łukasz Gołaszewski, Vice-President for Finance at PGE Baltica, and Berenika Sepczyńska, Senior Legal Manager at Ocean Winds.

– When it comes to energy security, ports are a crucial component. The service ports already operating today provide a very strong safeguard and are an important element of national security. Offshore energy is a relatively stable source of power. Looking at the overall energy mix, many energy sources are dependent on the geopolitical situation in one way or another. Offshore wind energy is different. The port is the first point of contact with the sea, which is why our installation ports have become an integral part of the country's security – stressed Sebastian Wionczek, Managing Director of Świnoujście Offshore Terminal.

He noted that both the terminal and its surrounding infrastructure are also being assessed from the perspective of future expansion and subsequent phases of offshore development.

– We are already looking at expanding the terminal for the second phase, analysing our clients' requirements and the scale of installation infrastructure that will be needed. Everything we are doing today is being verified against market demand and the needs of future projects – he said.

Wionczek also pointed out that interest in the terminal extends beyond the domestic market.

– We are receiving enquiries from more distant markets as well regarding the use of the terminal, storage capacity and handling of components. We see genuine interest from customers, including those from outside Poland – he said, adding that the company remains primarily focused on delivering its own Baltic projects.

– Our priority is the installation of our Baltic East and Baltic West projects while simultaneously preparing for the next phases of development – he added.

The importance of access to suitable port infrastructure from an investor's perspective was also highlighted by Łukasz Gołaszewski of PGE Baltica. As he explained, the number of locations capable of supporting offshore wind installation activities is limited, making proper planning of port facilities essential to maintaining project schedules.

– This is a crucial element that allows us to plan construction in a predictable manner. PGE Baltica currently has the largest portfolio of offshore wind projects with awarded support, so we must prepare procurement and delivery processes very efficiently – says Gołaszewski.

A significant part of the discussion focused on Ustka, where PGE Baltica is developing an operations and maintenance base for its first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Gołaszewski stressed that the investment has operational, local and social significance.

– We are currently constructing the operations and maintenance base for our first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. The project is already at an advanced stage of implementation. The base is being developed on infrastructure that had long been underinvested. We are creating a modern administrative, warehouse and operational facility that will be less intrusive for the surrounding area while also being visually attractive. Ustka is a tourist destination, so we want the facility to integrate well with its surroundings. We are also committed to delivering it as a sustainable development project – he added.

He added that one of the key elements of the project is the reconstruction of the quay to meet the highest offshore industry standards.

– This is infrastructure that will operate for several decades, so it is already providing a strong development impulse. More than 100 people will be employed during the construction phase, creating genuine opportunities for local residents to enter the offshore sector. Considering that our project portfolio is much larger, the potential for further development and economic activity is truly significant – the PGE Baltica representative said.

A similar investment, this time in Władysławowo, was presented by Berenika Sepczyńska of Ocean Winds. The company is developing an operations and maintenance base there to support its offshore projects while also benefiting the local community.

– Today we can already say that it is happening – we are beginning construction of the service base. We have signed the contract for the project's main contractor, and the contract for the quay refurbishment is still ahead of us. We believe we can initiate a lasting transformation in the way Władysławowo Port is used. The impact of offshore wind and strategic port infrastructure is already clearly visible – she said.

She added that construction is scheduled to begin shortly, with completion expected in 2027.

– We will use the base for the next 30 years, which is extremely important from the perspective of the local community. During the operational phase, we expect to create around 30 to 40 jobs. At the same time, we are running educational initiatives to encourage young people to pursue careers in the offshore sector and to create long-term professional development opportunities. We are investing not only in infrastructure directly linked to our project, but also in facilities that will serve local residents for many years to come – Sepczyńska said.