“In a year and a half the first ships will arrive in Elbląg”, declares Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak. This is the result of an agreement on cooperation concluded with the local government on the construction of the last section of the waterway from the Gulf of Gdansk to Elbląg. Under the agreement, the last section of the waterway on the Elbląg River will be deepened, providing access to the Elbląg harbour.

The agreement reached will make it possible to exploit the potential of the constructed canal through the Vistula Spit and will guarantee the economic development of the city and region.

“We are beginning a new stage in the functioning of the port of Elbląg, reaching an agreement between the government and the local self-government, so that a real sea port will be built in Elbląg. A port that will serve seagoing vessels. To this end, the Ministry of Infrastructure has commissioned the Maritime Office in Gdynia to carry out several activities so that the necessary infrastructure will be in place to bring the waterway to Elbląg. Up to now, the investment to cross the Spit has been pointless without this final stage, which will ensure the development of the port and the economic development of the region. In a year and a half a seagoing ship is due to arrive here. This place is to be functional in economic terms and is to serve entrepreneurs”, said Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak.

Documentation and conceptual work is currently underway. Amendments to the multiannual programme are also being finalised so that the government can allocate funds for the deepening of the last section of the waterway, ensuring the functionality and development of Elbląg’s port.

“The previous government has already spent almost 2 billion PLN on a dredging the Spit that is practically unusable. This investment must finally make sense, so we have already taken steps to ensure that large ships with a length of 100 metres and a draught of 4.5 metres will soon be able to enter Elbląg. Dredging work is under way on the Elbląg River – this is a 10-kilometre section. The last section remains. The Maritime Office is already carrying out work related to surveying the bed of the waterway to the port”, added Deputy Infrastructure Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka.

Adrian Andrzejewski