Poland's Elbląg and Gdynia ports face underuse and delayed privatization

The Mierzeja Wiślana canal, opened in September 2022 at a cost of about 2.1 billion zł, has seen only 5,902 vessels transit, most of them recreational, leaving the Elbląg port largely underutilised. The missing deep‑water approach and a long‑standing dispute over financing and state control of the port have delayed its commercial exploitation. The new government has pledged funding for the final waterway segment without taking a majority stake in the port company.

Meanwhile, the Gdynia Marine Port has extended the deadline for bids on the external terminal project to 30 September 2026. The multi‑year tender, running since 2020, now includes Terminal Investment Limited Gdynia, part of the MSC group, alongside investors linked to BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners and Singapore’s GIC. The prolonged process raises questions about state oversight of this strategic infrastructure and the timing of private involvement.