Expansion of Ore Quay III completed at the Port of Gdańsk

On Tuesday, 8 September, the Port of Gdańsk officially marked the completion of the comprehensive reconstruction of Ore Quay III. The project, co-financed under the Connecting Europe Facility for 2021–2027 (CEF 2), covered a total quay length of 250 metres.

The reconstruction, which included 230 metres of the Ore Quay and 100 metres of the Administration Quay, has improved the technical parameters and cargo-handling capacity of the port infrastructure.

The works included the construction of a new sheet-pile wall, pile foundation system, concrete pavement and rail systems designed to accommodate the heaviest cranes operating in the Inner Port. More than 300 metres of linear drainage systems were also installed, along with a sewer system and electrical power infrastructure prepared for the future installation of an OPS (Onshore Power Supply) system for supplying vessels with electricity from shore.

“This is another step towards fulfilling the Port of Gdańsk’s development ambitions and meeting the requirements placed on seaports as pillars of a sustainable blue economy. Today’s ceremony also has a European and EU dimension. The modernisation of the Ore Quay is part of an infrastructure development programme implemented with the support of the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility.

“The funding amounts to nearly EUR 100 million and allows us to consistently strengthen the Port of Gdańsk’s position within the TEN-T network and develop infrastructure of strategic importance to Poland and Europe as a whole,” said Dorota Pyć, President of the Port of Gdańsk Authority.

President Dorota Pyć also pointed out that Ore Quay III is the second quay, following Bytom Quay, to be commissioned as part of the project.

“Every modernised quay increases the Port of Gdańsk’s development potential. By investing in the Inner Port, we are creating modern infrastructure capable of meeting the demands of contemporary logistics and maritime transport,” she emphasised.

Stefan Rudnik, Director of the Investment Department at the Port of Gdańsk Authority, provided further details on the reconstruction of Ore Quay III.

“The history of this site dates back almost 100 years, when construction of the Mining Basin began. The section of the quay being commissioned today was built around 80 years ago and had become heavily worn. Due to its technical condition, part of its length had been taken out of service. We essentially had to rebuild it from scratch and adapt its parameters to the needs of today’s market,” said Stefan Rudnik.

As the Director of the Investment Department explained, the aim of the project was to comprehensively reconstruct the entire quay so that it could operate seamlessly together with the adjoining sections.

“Firstly, this section of the quay was in poor technical condition and, secondly, it was structurally separated from the neighbouring sections, meaning that vessels could not berth along a single continuous line. Before the reconstruction, the depth alongside the quay was only 6 metres at its shallowest points. This allowed vessels with a deadweight capacity of up to 7,000 DWT to be handled.

“Following the modernisation, the basin has been dredged to 11.2 metres, enabling the quay to accommodate vessels with a draught of up to 10.5 metres and a deadweight capacity of up to 35,000 DWT when fully loaded, and up to 100,000 DWT when partially loaded,” Rudnik explained.

“As part of the optimisation process, we also have the option of further increasing the parameters originally designed under the basic project. This would allow us to deepen the channel to 12 metres, with a technical depth of up to 13.5 metres,” he added.

Thanks to the reconstruction, the Ore Quay has become a multipurpose facility. In addition to bulk cargo, it can now handle general cargo, including steel products.

The construction site was handed over to the contractor in May 2024, while final acceptance of the works took place in May 2026. The total cost of the project exceeded PLN 98 million gross. PORR S.A. was the general contractor.

Source: PortalMorski.pl
Photos: Sławomir Lewandowski / PortalMorski.pl