On November 28, 2022, Baltic Hub (formerly DCT Gdansk), the operator of the largest container terminal in the Baltic Sea, ceremonially started the construction of the third deepwater T3 terminal. When completed in the second quarter of 2025, the new terminal will have a quay wall that is 717 meters long and 17.5 meters deep. It will be the third deep-sea quay of the Baltic Hub, which can handle the largest container ships in the world. The new terminal will also provide 36.5 hectares of additional operating space. In total, the investment is worth EUR 450 million. The T3 project, which will be opened for commercial operations after the completion of the first phase in the first half of 2024, is a testament to Baltic Hub’s ambition to build the largest container hub serving Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and become one of the largest container terminal hubs in Europe.
Timeline of investments
The construction of the T3 project will be carried out in two stages. In the first phase, the consortium of Budimex and DEME will build a 36-hectare terminal next to Terminal 1. This new terminal area, which will be completed by the first half of 2024, will be fully reclaimed from the sea. This will increase the Baltic Hub’s handling capacity by 1.5 million TEUs (20-foot containers) to 4.5 million TEUs per year. In the second phase, the construction of a 717-metre-long and 17.5-metre-deep quay wall will begin. It is expected to start in early 2023 and end in the second quarter of 2025.
The T3 project also includes the purchase of seven quay cranes that are capable of handling the largest ships in the world, as well as 20 semi-automatic rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs) for the container yard, which operators will be able to control remotely from ergonomically designed workspaces. This will allow for a safer, efficient, modern and more comfortable working environment 365 days a year.
The cornerstone laying ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Marek Gróbarczyk, representatives of the Polish Development Fund and the Baltic Port in Gdańsk, and the main contractors Budimex and DEME Dredging International.
The commencement of construction works at the new T3 Baltic Hub terminal completes the stage of work on detailed designs and preparation of the construction site. These activities were carried out as part of the so-called “early start” since the signing of the contract by the Budimex – Deme consortium – in July 2022. Now the consortium is starting work on the construction of a new terminal. The dredging of the fairway to the new terminal and the filling of the water area for its basic structure begins. These works will be carried out, among others, by a special dredging vessel using the appropriate material from the bottom to construct a platform for the terminal. In addition, the consortium is starting the construction of sheet piling around the future terminal.
“We have completed design and preparatory work. It is time to start the main works on the construction of the T3 Baltic Hub. In the coming months, we will expand the land territory of Poland by 36 hectares. We have unique experience in the field of hydrotechnical works on the largest investments in the country. We will use this knowledge and experience of our engineers along with the equipment in the construction of the new terminal. The construction works themselves involve the performance of dredging works with a capacity of over 4 million m3, the construction of a mooring line with a length of over 700 m. The T3 terminal itself will have an area of over 360,000 m2, an operating depth of 17 m and will be semi-automatic, which is a novelty in Poland and a trend present in the world at the moment.” – says Cezary Łysenko – Director of the Infrastructure Construction Division of Budimex SA.
Laurent Closset, Regional Director Northern Europe at DEME: “We are proud to be helping to build this terminal, where we will carry out the dredging and land reclamation work. We look forward to working with our consortium partner, Budimex, to combine our expertise to contribute to the implementation of the ambitious development plans of the Baltic Hub.”
New capabilities for T3
The Baltic Hub is the largest container terminal in Poland and has experienced exponential growth from having just one deep-water quay and a capacity of 500,000 TEUs when it was founded 15 years ago, to becoming a true “Baltic Hub” with two deep-sea quays that handled over 2.09 million TEUs in 2021. with a total annual capacity of up to 3 million TEUs. At the moment, the Baltic Hub has 1,300 meters of quay, 14 Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and an annual capacity of 2.7 MTEU.
In addition, the Baltic Hub has become a transport gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, with inland destinations such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany. This is the result of continuous investments over the years, which have brought the railway’s capacity to 750,000 TEUs in 2020.
Baltic Hub CEO Charles Baker promises that Baltic Hub and its partners will implement the project with the highest environmental standards from the planning stage:“The Baltic Hub is a true terminal of the 21st century, and the development of T3 will bring the latest low-carbon technology that any European port would be proud of. We reiterate that we are taking internationally recognized precautions to protect the environment, marine life, and habitats in the project area. This A-to-Z design will reflect our commitment to sustainable investments, for example through the use of low-carbon concrete and the deployment of low-carbon equipment – such as electric shipyard cranes“.
Baker adds: “T3 will further enrich the services offered by the Baltic Hub. Moreover, we will be able to attract new services, destinations and shipping alliances. By developing additional transhipment capacities and opening up new sea connections, we will also boost the Polish economy as a whole.”
About Baltic Hub
Baltic Hub (BH) started operating in 2007 under the name DCT Gdansk and has a handling capacity of up to 3 million TEU per year. The total length of the terminal’s two deep-water quays is 1.3 km, which allows for the simultaneous handling of 4 vessels. The terminal handles more than 700 ships per year, including 100 calls of the largest container ships in the world. In 2021, the terminal handled over 2.09 million TEUs. On April 8, 2021, BH reached the milestone of 15 million TEUs, the total capacity handled since the terminal’s inception. BH employs over 1,200 people, of which over 50 percent. lives in Gdańsk and the surrounding area. The terminal has a direct and significant impact on the regional and Polish economy, generating more than PLN 12 billion annually for the state budget from VAT, excise duty and customs. BH is owned by PSA International (40%), the Polish Development Fund (30%) and the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund advised by IFM Investors (30%).
About PSA International
PSA International (PSA) is a leading port group and a trusted partner for cargo stakeholders. With flagship operations in Singapore and Antwerp, PSA’s global network includes 160 locations in 42 countries around the world. The Group’s portfolio includes more than 60 deepwater, rail and inland terminals, as well as related companies in supply chain management, logistics, maritime and digital services. Building on the deep knowledge and experience of its diverse global team, PSA actively works with its customers and partners to deliver world-class port services, develop innovative cargo solutions and co-create the Internet of Logistics. As the partner of choice in the global supply chain, PSA is the “world port of call”. Visit us on www.globalpsa.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook (@globalpsa).
About DEME
DEME (Euronext Brussels: DEME) is a leading contractor in the fields of offshore energy, environmental remediation, dredging and offshore infrastructure. DEME is also involved in offshore wind concession activities, offshore infrastructure, green hydrogen and deep-sea mineral harvesting. The company can draw on more than 145 years of experience and is at the forefront of innovation and new technologies. DEME can rely on around 5,000 highly skilled professionals and operates one of the largest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world.
