International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said that its Baltic Sea operation in Gdynia, Poland — Baltic Container Terminal (BCT) — has completed the phase 1 of an $84 million upgrade for it Helskie Quay.
The project represent an important step in the Port of Gdynia’s goal to accommodate larger vessels, the terminal operator said.
“Phase 1 works cover the construction of 400 meters of quay with a depth alongside of 15.5 meters and complementary works entailing the installation of a new third rail to accommodate wider span cranes, new hydrotechnical structures, roads and utility networks,” it said in a statement, noting that it was completed on schedule.
This allows vessels with 14.7-meter draft and 400-meter length overall to call at BCT.
“The completion of Phase 1 of our development program lays the foundation from which major benefits will be made available to clients,” said Wojciech Szymulewicz, BCT chief executive officer (CEO).
Phase 2 of the upgrade is now in the works, according to Szymulewicz, which he said will be a “comprehensive upgrade of BCT’s operational capabilities, particularly in terms of vessel accommodation and overall throughput potential.”
The Phase 2 works will include the demolition and reconstruction of additional quay sections, new crane tracks, heavy duty surfaces and the installation of modern utility and hydrotechnical infrastructure.
Szymulewicz said Phase 2’s completion will be accompanied by the delivery of either two or four new super post-Panamax quay cranes, which will significantly increase the berthing and operational capacities of the quay.
“The cranes are expected to raise BCT’s annual berth handling capacity to between 1.2 million and 1.6 million TEUs depending on the final configuration,” he elaborated said.
The Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by end of the second quarter of next year.
ICTSI meanwhile said there are also complementary investments in the pipeline, like the implementation of the Navis N4 4 Terminal Operating System in October this year, which will, in turn, facilitate the introduction of an appointment system for truck drivers.
“The booking-based operational logic will enhance planning accuracy and process efficiency. The terminal’s automated gate system will be configured as part of this initiative,” ICTSI said.
“The introduction of N4 4 also provides the opportunity to introduce advanced optimization tools such as Prime Route (for optimized internal container transport) and Expert Docking (for intelligent container stacking and retrieval actions),” it added.
ICTSI said the Port Authority of Gdynia is also looking at a new internal road to connect a nine-hectare storage yard with Helskie Quay, to be launched in the third quarter this year, seen to boost container storage capacity for the terminal.
“BCT is already benefiting from the recent construction of the Gdynia Port Rail Station, which has raised capacity and overall efficiency. Congestion-related train stoppages have been practically eliminated and measurable improvements in transit times and punctuality are a daily reality,” said Szymulewicz.
In 2024, 17 percent of BCT’s annual container volume — comprising nearly 100,000 twenty-equivalent units (TEUs) — was moved by rail.
“The figure is expected to climb, facilitated by the development program, as is overall annual throughput, which in 2024 amounted to 560,000 TEUs,” Szymulewicz said.
Hans-Ole Madsen, ICTSI senior vice president and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region head, meanwhile said the upgrade puts BCT and the Port of Gdynia in “a strong position to consolidate and expand traffic volume across the board – deep-sea, short-sea and feeder.”
“Working with the Port Authority of Gdynia, ICTSI will soon deliver to the market a fully modernized terminal offering efficiencies that feed along the supply chain and promote a comprehensive, sustainable approach,” he said.
In May 2003, ICTSI was awarded a 20-year concession by the Port Authority of Gydnia to develop, operate and manage the container terminal in Pomerania, Gydnia, Poland. ICTSI purchased Baltycki Terminal Kontenerowy Sp. z. o. o. (BCT), which had held the lease to the terminal.
Poland’s window to the world, BCT is strategically located within pan-European transport corridors and railway routes, and with excellent road and on-dock rail connectivity to inland Europe.
