Dutch Contractor Van Oord Begins Dredging Work for Poland’s FSRU Terminal

Van Oord, a Dutch marine contractor, has embarked on a dredging project to prepare the site for Poland’s floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) as part of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Gulf of Gdańsk. This development marks a significant milestone in creating a new gas entry point for the European country.

Preparatory Work Underway

Poland’s gas transmission system operator, Gaz-System, has announced the commencement of preparatory work for the construction of the FSRU terminal. Dredging of the bottom of the Gulf of Gdańsk is currently in progress at the site where the first floating LNG terminal in Poland will be stationed.

The dredging work, carried out using Van Oord’s vessels, will cover a total area of nearly 656,000 square meters of the reservoir after removing ferromagnetic objects from the seabed. The project is divided into four stages to prepare for the construction of the quay infrastructure.

Key Stages of the Project

The first stage involves deepening the seabed where the terminal quay will be built. Subsequent phases will extend to the protective breakwater being constructed by the Maritime Office in Gdynia, covering the southern and eastern parts of the offshore construction site.

Sławomir Hinc, President of the Management Board of Gaz-System, emphasized the importance of the preparatory work, stating, “Deepening the seabed in the area of the future terminal is crucial for safe vessel maneuvering and mooring, as well as for the efficient operation of the entire infrastructure.”

Future Plans and Sustainability

After completing the dredging work, the next steps will involve mobilizing vessels, equipment, and materials for pile driving. The material dredged from the Gulf of Gdańsk will be used to replenish the beach in Górki Zachodnie, with the remaining material designated for a special discharge area identified by the Maritime Office in Gdynia.

The FSRU LNG terminal aims to receive, process, store, and regasify over 6 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The regasification unit, currently under construction in South Korea, will be permanently moored in the Gulf of Gdańsk near the Port of Gdańsk.

Financing and Timeline

Gaz-System is utilizing European Union funds for the offshore portion of the project, with a loan agreement signed with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) for natural gas infrastructure construction. The FSRU program is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO) and aligns with the REPowerEU initiative to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2030.

With the onshore part of the terminal set to be completed by 2027-2028, Gaz-System is committed to enhancing Poland’s energy security and promoting renewable energy sources as part of the REPowerEU objectives.

In conclusion, the FSRU terminal project represents a significant step towards diversifying Poland’s energy sources and strengthening its energy infrastructure for the future.