On July 13, Poland officially launched the construction of the deep-water container port "Cape Pomerania" in Świnoujście — a project worth over 10 billion zlotys (approximately $2.35 billion). However, behind this launch date lies a backstory that explains why this port will be built exclusively by Polish structures.
How the Belgians and Qataris Left Poland with Nothing
In July 2023, the previous government signed an agreement with the consortium DEME Group (Belgium) and QTerminals (Qatar) — they were to both build and finance the terminal. The consortium failed to meet contractual obligations and missed established deadlines. Tusk's new government annulled the agreement and announced a concept "from scratch."
"We developed a new concept for the Świnoujście port from scratch because the previous one was flawed: without guaranteed financing and with constant delays"
— Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka
The new version of the project turned out to be more ambitious than the previous one. The port will be built exclusively by Polish state structures — the Management of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Maritime Ports.
What Exactly Is Being Built
- 186 hectares of new land reclaimed from the Pomeranian Bay (landfill of approximately 20 million tons of sand)
- Container terminal with a berth line of 1,300 m and throughput capacity of 2 million TEU per year
- Access channel 70 km long, 500 m wide, and 17 m deep — sufficient for vessels up to 400 m long
- Railroad infrastructure: 10 tracks of 800 m each; two access routes over 3 km
- Total length of the berth wall with breakwater — nearly 3 km
Construction is planned to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2029.
The Baltic "Champions League" — Or Hamburg's Rear Base
Świnoujście is located right next to the German border. Currently, Polish cargo largely goes through Hamburg. "Cape Pomerania" is supposed to change this logic: to become the country's second deep-water container hub after Gdańsk and compete with the largest ports of the Baltic Sea.
There is also a security dimension. The port is being built in a Natura 2000 zone near the German border — which has for years caused protests from Polish and German environmentalists. At the same time, the Polish side directly links the project to NATO logistics and the "strategic security of the country."
"This is a historical opportunity to enter the European Champions League of ports"
— Jarosław Sergey, General Director of the Management of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Maritime Ports
Where the Risk Lies
The project is being implemented without a private partner and without a confirmed anchor terminal operator — one that would guarantee processing of 2 million TEU per year. Gdańsk already handles such volumes, with CMA CGM and Maersk behind it. Świnoujście does not yet have this.
If by 2027 — the start of construction — Poland fails to attract a major international operator, "Cape Pomerania" risks becoming the most expensive port in the Baltic with no fleet visiting it.
