The Szczecin-Świnoujscie port complex sums up its transshipment results for the first six months of the year. These are nearly three and a half percent better than at the same time last year. Port operators handled nearly 18.1 million tons of cargo in January-June this year. 

Transshipments of metal ores fell by nearly half compared to last year. Also on the downside is general cargo (-9.4 percent), including ferry cargo (-10.2 percent).

The Port Authority forecasts that this year's transshipment results should exceed the result achieved in 2022. For the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujscie, 2022 was a record year in terms of cargo handled. The ports achieved a result of nearly 37 million tons, were thus in the positive against 2021 by 11 percent. The optimism stems from the growing cargo handling potential and the replacement of the fleet of ships with larger ones. This was exemplified on July 10, when daily transshipments were recorded at an unprecedented level of more than 200,000 tons. Thus, the effects of deepening the Świnoujscie-Szczecin waterway to 12.5 meters are already noticeable.

ZMPSiŚ is taking measures aimed at continuous port development, creating conditions and opportunities for handling more cargo than at present. After completion of the investment, the port in Szczecin will gain new and modernized quays in the area of the Kashubian Basin and Debicki Canal, adapted in terms of parameters to handle more cargo than at present. The ferry terminal in Świnoujscie will be adapted to handle intermodal transport. The LNG terminal is being expanded through the construction of an additional unloading and loading berth to handle smaller LNG vessels: gas carriers, bunker ships and feeder vessels. In turn, through investments in the construction of new and modernization of existing technical infrastructure, both ports will be more environmentally friendly. Access infrastructure, including roads and railroads connecting the ports with the hinterland, is also being systematically improved.

A project that will have a positive impact on the country's and region's economy and complement the offer of both ports will certainly be the Deepwater Container Terminal in Świnoujscie and the installation terminal for offshore wind farms located in the Świnoujscie port.

Monika Woźniak-Lewandowska, ZMPSiŚ