Budimex starts work on the construction of a new terminal for Baltic Hub
On 28 November 2022, Baltic Hub (formerly DCT Gdańsk), the operator of the largest container terminal on the Baltic Sea, officially launched the construction of a third deep-water T3 terminal. After being completed in the second quarter of 2025, the new terminal will have a quay wall with the length of 717 metres and depth of 17.5 metres. This will be the third deep sea Baltic Hub quay, which can handle the largest container vessels in the world. The new terminal will also provide 36.5 hectares of additional operating space. In total, the investment is worth EUR 450 million. The T3 project, which will be opened for commercial operations after completion of the first phase in the first half of 2024, is a sign of Baltic Hub’s ambition to build the largest container hub serving Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, and to become one of the largest container terminal hubs in Europe.
Investment schedule
The construction of the T3 project will be implemented in two stages. In the first phase, the consortium of the companies Budimex and DEME will build a 36-hectare terminal next to Terminal 1. The new area of the terminal, which will be completed by the first half of 2024, will be fully recovered from the sea. This will increase the reloading capacity of Baltic Hub by 1.5 million TEUs (20-feet containers) to 4.5 million TEUs per year. In the second phase, the construction of the quay wall with a length of 717 metres and depth of 17.5 metres will begin. It is to start at the beginning of 2023 and finish in the second quarter of 2025.
The T3 project also includes the purchase of seven quay cranes capable of operating the largest ships in the world, as well as 20 semi-automatic rail mounted gantry cranes (RMG) for the container yard, whose operators will be able to control them remotely from ergonomically designed workspaces. This will provide a safer, efficient, modern and more comfortable working environment 365 days a year.
The cornerstone laying ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure Marek Gróbarczyk, the representatives of: the Polish Development Fund and the Baltic Port in Gdańsk, and the main contractors Budimex and DEME Dredging International.
The commencement of construction work at the new T3 Baltic Hub terminal ends the stage of work on implementing projects and preparing the construction site. The actions were carried out within the framework of the so-called “early start” from the signing of the agreement by the Budimex – DEME consortium in July 2022. Now the consortium begins work related to the construction of a new terminal. The process of dredging the waterway for the new terminal and terrestrialising the water area for its main structure is being commenced. Among other things, the work will be carried out by a special dredging vessel using suitable material from the bottom to construct the platform for the terminal. In addition, the consortium has commenced the construction of tight walls around the future terminal.
‘We have completed project and preparatory work. It is time to start the core work on the construction of T3 Baltic Hub. Over the coming months, we will increase Poland’s land territory by 36 hectares. We have unique experience in hydraulic engineering work on the largest investments in the country. The knowledge and experience of our engineers and equipment will be used for the construction of the new terminal. The construction work itself involves dredging work with a volume of more than 4 million cubic metres and the construction of an over 700-metre long mooring line. The T3 terminal itself will have a surface area of more than 360,000 m2, an operational depth of 17 m and will be semi-automatic, which is a novelty in Poland and a current trend around the world’, said Cezary Łysenko, the Head of the Infrastructure Construction Division at Budimex SA.
Laurent Closset, Regional Director for Northern Europe in DEME: ‘We are proud that we are helping to build this terminal where we will carry out dredging and land reclamation work. We look forward to working with our partner in the consortium, Budimex company, to combine our expertise and contribute to the ambitious development plans of Baltic Hub.’
New possibilities of T3
Baltic Hub is the largest container terminal in Poland and has experienced rapid growth from having only one deep water quay and a throughput of 500,000 TEUs when it was set up 15 years ago, to become a true ‘Baltic Hub’ with two deep sea quays, which served more than 2.09 million TEUs in 2021, with a total annual throughput of up to 3 million TEUs. Baltic Hub currently has 1,300 metres of quay, 14 Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and an annual throughput of 2.7 MTEU.
In addition, Baltic Hub has become a transport gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, with inland destinations such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany. This is the result of continued investments over the years, which increased the railroad throughput to 750,000 TEU in 2020.
Charles Baker, the Chief Executive Officer of Baltic Hub, promises that Baltic Hub and its partners will implement the project in compliance with the highest environmental standards from the planning stage: ‘Baltic Hub is a true 21st century terminal, and the development of T3 will bring the latest low-carbon technology that every European port would be proud of. We emphasise once again that we are taking globally recognised precautionary measures to protect the environment, marine life and habitats in the area covered by the project. This construction from A to Z will reflect our commitment to sustainable investments, for example, by using low-carbon concrete and implementing low-carbon equipment, such as electric shipyard cranes.
Baker adds that, ‘T3 will enrich the services offered by Baltic Hub even further. Moreover, we will be able to attract new services, destinations and shipping alliances. By developing additional reloading capacity and opening new maritime connections, we will also stimulate the Polish economy as a whole.’
About Baltic Hub
Baltic Hub (BH) started its operations in 2007 with the name DCT Gdańsk and has the capacity to handle up to 3 million TEUs per year. The total length of the two deep water quays of the terminal is 1.3 km, which allows for simultaneous handling of 4 vessels. The terminal handles more than 700 vessels per year, including 100 visits by the world’s largest container ships. In 2021, the terminal served more than 2.09 million TEUs. On 8 April 2021, BH reached a milestone of 15 million TEUs, i.e. the total throughput handled from the moment the terminal was created. BH employs over 1,200 people, more than 50 per cent of whom live in and around Gdańsk. The terminal has a direct and significant impact on the regional and Polish economy, generating more than PLN 12 billion a year for the state budget from VAT, excise and customs duties. The terminal is owned by PSA International (40%), the Polish Development Fund (30%) and IFM Global Infrastructure Fund, advised by IFM Investors (30%).
About PSA International
PSA International (PSA) is a leading port group and a trusted partner for cargo stakeholders. With its flagship operations in Singapore and Antwerp, the global PSA network includes 160 locations in 42 countries around the world. The Group’s portfolio includes more than 60 deep sea, rail and inland terminals, as well as related companies in the scope of supply chain management, logistics, maritime and digital services. Drawing on the deep expertise and experience of a diversified global team, PSA actively cooperates with its customers and partners to provide world-class port services, develop innovative cargo solutions and create the Internet of Logistics. As a partner of choice in the global supply chain, PSA is a ‘worldwide landing port’. Visit us at www.globalpsa.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook (@globalpsa).
About DEME
DEME (Euronext Brussels: DEME) is a leading contractor in the field of offshore energy power, environmental remediation, dredging and maritime infrastructure. DEME also engages in concession activities in the scope of offshore wind power, offshore infrastructure, green hydrogen and deep-sea mineral resources harvesting. The company can rely on more than 145 years of experience and is a leader in innovation and new technologies. DEME can rely on approximately 5000 highly qualified specialists and operates one of the largest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world.