“The date of 17 September for the opening of the canal through the Vistula Spit was not chosen at random. We want to break this symbolic moment, tragic for Poland, with tomorrow’s opening of navigation,” said Marek Gróbarczyk, deputy minister of infrastructure, government plenipotentiary for water management and investments in maritime and water management.

Already the day after the opening ceremony, the new waterway linking the Vistula Lagoon with the Gulf of Gdansk will be open to the general public for vessels.

The total length of the waterway from the Gulf of Gdansk to Elbląg is almost 23 kilometres, including a passage through the Vistula Lagoon of just over 10 kilometres, on the Elbląg River also over 10 kilometres, and the remaining approx. 2.5 kilometres is a section comprising a lock and external harbour and berth. The canal, as well as the entire fairway, will eventually be 5m deep.

The Polish government has repeatedly stressed that with the launch of the canal, Poland will break with Russia’s dominance in the region. Ships will gain access to all ports on the Vistula Lagoon and to the seaport in Elbląg, while new development opportunities will open for Elbląg, Warmia and the whole of Eastern Poland.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure spoke about the importance of the Vistula Spit Canal also in national security and convinced that only today “we do have the opportunity to protect the border in a proper and responsible manner”.

The canal itself was built on the site of the former settlement of Nowy Świat, between Skowronki and Przebrno on the Vistula Spit. Its official opening will take place on 17 September at 12 p.m. A special family zone will be launched from 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m. with a shanty concert by Cztery Refy. The event will conclude with a night-time drone show.

Adrian Andrzejewski