The construction of protective breakwaters in the port of Gdynia will soon begin. Thanks to the investment, a body of water protected from waves will be created, which will allow for the construction and subsequent operation of the Outer Port. This means much wider opportunities for development and strengthening the position of the port of Gdynia among the ports on the Baltic Sea, as well as greater economic and military security for the entire country. Today, a contract for the implementation of this task was signed with a consortium led by Budimex.
The contract for the “Construction of protective breakwaters, constituting water access infrastructure to the Outer Port in the Port of Gdynia, in the design and build formula” was concluded between the Maritime Office in Gdynia and the Port of Gdynia Authority, and the general contractor, i.e. a consortium consisting of Budimex S.A. (as the leader), Roverpol Sp. z o.o. (partner), Rover Maritime S.L. (partner). The task includes the construction of the first phase of the breakwaters of the Outer Port. Ultimately, almost 2.5 kilometers of them will be built.
“The construction of breakwaters is the opening of a completely new chapter in the history of the Port of Gdynia. For decades, the port has been developing within its existing borders. Because it is surrounded by the city, there are no more development opportunities in this area, so today we are going out to sea. This is the only direction that ensures the expansion of the Port of Gdynia’s capabilities in the long term,” emphasizes Piotr Gorzeński, President of the Port of Gdynia Authority.
They will handle Baltimax vessels
The implementation of this task will ultimately enable the construction and operation of the Outer Port, which will be adapted to handle the largest ships that can enter the Baltic Sea with Baltimax parameters. Thanks to the investment, a body of water protected from the impact of waves will be created, which will enable manoeuvres at the terminal in the Outer Port along with safe unloading at its quays.
The new infrastructure will also protect existing facilities from waves. The construction will also improve navigational conditions on the approach to the Inner Port.
In addition, the project will bring a number of benefits from the point of view of the country’s economic security – the development of the Port of Gdynia will allow for the diversification of foreign trade directions and the transfer of transport corridors closer to the target recipients in Poland and the region of Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, when the investment is completed, you can count on higher customs and tax revenues to the state budget. Let us remind you that in 2023, Polish seaports had the largest share in the generated tax revenues from the main border transshipment terminals in Poland. Customs and tax revenues at the Port of Gdynia last year amounted to PLN 7 billion.
Importantly, military security will also increase, as the Port of Gdynia is a so-called dual-purpose port and the largest NATO base in the region.
PLN 439 million
The project will be developed in the “design and build” formula. Its net value is nearly PLN 439 million. The works are to be completed in the second quarter of 2028.
– The construction of protective breakwaters is crucial for the creation of the Outer Port in Gdynia. This is a real beginning of a historic expansion of infrastructure, ensuring significantly greater capacity, the number of ships serviced and the safety of navigation and port operations. I would like to thank the employees of the Port of Gdynia Authority and our Office for their commitment and professionalism in the implementation of this large project so far,” said Anna Stelmaszyk-Świerczyńska, Director of the Maritime Office in Gdynia.
In the first stage, a consortium consisting of Budimex S.A., Roverpol Sp. z o.o. and Rover Maritime S.L. will proceed to design work and obtain a building permit. Then construction works will begin. They will be carried out on the water, outside the port protective breakwaters.
Work only on water
“Logistics will certainly be a challenge during the implementation of this important investment. On the one hand, all materials, equipment and employees will be transported to the site by water. On the other hand, logistics will certainly be largely affected by weather conditions. In addition, there is the need to take into account a large number of vessels using the port. This will require us to coordinate perfectly, but we are fully ready for it. We have confirmed more than once that the experience gained over the years in various areas of construction allows us to carry out even the most complex and ambitious tasks,” says Jakub Długoszek, Director of Infrastructure Construction at Budimex S.A., which is the consortium leader.
The breakwaters will be constructed in the form of sunken reinforced concrete boxes with a length of approx. 50 m, a width of 13.6 m and a height of 14.5 to 16.5 m. The boxes will be made on a special floating dock, using the continuous concreting method. Then the boxes will be launched and their concreting will take place on water.
The investment will be implemented taking into account the provisions of the environmental decision, including in particular the protection of birds, fish and marine mammals.
The consortium has extensive experience in the implementation of hydrotechnical investments. Budimex, the consortium leader, has in its portfolio, among m.in, the construction of a waterway connecting the Vistula Lagoon with Elbląg and the third deep-water container terminal, T3 Baltic Hub. The company is also responsible for the construction of the largest hydrotechnical investment in Poland – the flood control reservoir in Racibórz Dolny.
