ICTSI Completes Phase 1 Upgrade of Helskie Quay at Baltic Container Terminal, Gdynia
International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) Baltic Container Terminal (BCT) in Gdynia, in collaboration with the Port of Gdynia Authority, has successfully concluded Phase 1 of a significant upgrade project for its Helskie Quay.
The completion of this project, covering over 400 meters of quay line, marks a crucial milestone in the Port of Gdynia’s efforts to accommodate larger vessels effectively.
By this September, the first 100 meters of the additional 400 meters to be enhanced in Phase 2 will be operational, along with the inauguration of an expanded turning basin. These developments will enable vessels with a draft of 14.7 meters and a length overall of 400 meters to access BCT.
Phase 1 of the upgrade involved an investment of $42 million and included the construction of 400 meters of quay with a depth alongside of 15.5 meters. The project also encompassed the installation of a new third rail to accommodate wider span cranes, as well as new hydrotechnical structures, roads, and utility networks.
Wojciech Szymulewicz, BCT’s CEO, stated, “The completion of Phase 2 will bring a comprehensive enhancement of BCT’s operational capabilities, particularly in vessel accommodation and overall throughput potential. With the addition of new super post-Panamax quay cranes in Phase 2, BCT’s annual berth handling capacity is projected to increase to between 1.2 million and 1.6 million TEUs, depending on the final configuration.”
The total investment for Phases 1 and 2 is estimated to exceed $84 million, with Phase 2 slated for completion by the end of Q2 2026. The subsequent phase will involve the demolition and reconstruction of additional quay sections, new crane tracks, heavy-duty surfaces, and the installation of modern utility and hydrotechnical infrastructure.
Moreover, BCT will implement the Navis N4 4 Terminal Operating System in October this year, facilitating the introduction of an appointment system for truck drivers. This booking-based operational logic will enhance planning accuracy and process efficiency, with the automated gate system to be configured as part of this initiative.
Looking ahead, the adoption of N4 4 also opens up the opportunity to incorporate advanced optimization tools like Prime Route for optimized internal container transport and Expert Docking for intelligent container stacking and retrieval actions.
Additionally, the Port Authority of Gdynia is preparing to launch a tender in Q3 2025 for a new internal road that will connect a nine-hectare storage yard with Helskie Quay. This connection will boost container storage capacity, with all construction works expected to be finalized in 2026.
Benefiting from the recent construction of the Gdynia Port Rail Station, BCT has seen increased capacity and overall efficiency. Congestion-related train stoppages have been significantly reduced, leading to measurable improvements in transit times and punctuality.
In 2024, 17% of BCT’s annual container volume was transported by rail, amounting to nearly 100,000 TEUs. This figure is anticipated to rise further, supported by the development program, as is the overall annual throughput, which reached 560,000 TEUs in 2024.