On the morning of April 14, the operation of relocating the floating dock of PGZ Naval Shipyard took place. The undertaking is also significant for the Port of Gdynia, as it enables the continuation of modernization works on Turning Basin No. 2.

The entire operation forms part of the investment project “Deepening of the approach fairway and internal basins of the Port of Gdynia – Stages I and III, and reconstruction of quays – Stages II and III”, co-financed by the European Union. The dock relocation had been delayed for several months due to quay repairs in the Port of Gdynia. The quay was damaged in September last year during the construction of the dock recess. The repair works, carried out by NDI Group, lasted five months.

“We have reached a very important stage of one of our largest investment projects. Today, the floating dock of the PGZ Naval Shipyard was towed from its previous location to a new site prepared within the shipyard. This was necessary because the previous location will now be used for the expansion of the turning basin,” explained Piotr Gorzeński, President of the Port of Gdynia Authority.

“The first stage, which began around 7 a.m. today, was to unmoor the dock from the dolphins. Then, assisted by two tugs and two pushers, the dock moved onto Turning Basin No. 2, and from there through the port channel to its designated location,” reported Tomasz Wawrzyński, Head of the Land and Hydrotechnical Infrastructure Department at the Port of Gdynia Authority.

“This was the most critical and eagerly awaited moment – whether the two ‘ears’ on the dock’s structure would align perfectly with the dolphins built by us and the general contractor. Everything went 100% according to plan,” said Wawrzyński.

“The dock has been moved to its new location, but the quays where it was previously moored remain. We must carry out some demolition work there, clear the seabed, and deepen the area to ensure safe maneuvering of vessels with drafts of nearly 15 meters,” said Port of Gdynia President Piotr Gorzeński.

“Next, we will shorten Pier II, where the dock was previously berthed, and carry out dredging directly under the dock recess. As soon as the towing began, the demolition contractor was already on site and is expected to start work tomorrow. The entire investment will conclude once the shortening is complete, dredging is carried out, and we achieve a turning basin with a diameter of 400 meters and a depth of 16 meters,” added Wawrzyński.

The several-hour operation involved the tugs Fairplay IV and Fairplay 85, as well as the pushers Nosorożec S 05 and Nosorożec B 01. Also engaged were pilots from the Unipil pilot station in the Port of Gdynia, along with staff from PGZ and the project’s general contractor, NDI.

Once near the new dock recess, the dock was turned and carefully maneuvered inside, before being moored in position.

Following the dock relocation, works on the major investment project in the Port of Gdynia will continue. The aim is to enable the handling of larger vessels in the port basin – up to 400 meters long, 60 meters wide, and with a draft of up to 14.5 meters – thus increasing container and other cargo throughput and strengthening the Port of Gdynia’s position in global logistics chains. A key element of this is the modernization of Turning Basin No. 2, which will be expanded to a diameter of 480 meters.

The new dock recess and the modernization of Turning Basin No. 2 are part of a broader project that also includes deepening the quays to 16 meters and their reconstruction. Recently, the over 400-meter-long Helskie Quay was commissioned.

These works are not expected to take long.

The project is scheduled for completion later this year.

For PGZ Naval Shipyard, the dock relocation is part of the broader reconstruction of the facility and the largest investment in the history of the Polish shipbuilding industry: the delivery of three multi-role frigates under the Miecznikprogram for the Polish Navy. Construction of the first ship, the future ORP Wicher, has been underway since August 2023. All frigates are to be delivered by 2031. They will join the Combat Ship Squadron of the 3rd Flotilla and be based at the Naval Port of Gdynia. As part of this program, the shipyard has already built a new hull assembly hall and other supporting facilities.