DCT Gdansk

Developing an important link in global supply chains.

Overview

Positioned at the crossroads of the Baltic’s deep-sea trading routes, the Polish city of Gdansk had the potential to become a gateway to the fast-growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

Over 13 years, MAM and its co-shareholders facilitated the greenfield development and expansion of Deep-Water Container Terminal Gdansk (DCT Gdansk) – creating one of Europe’s fastest growing container terminals¹.

Sector Infrastructure

Sub-sector Transport

Invested 2006 – 2019

Ownership 64%

Location Poland

Enabling global trade flows

Recognising the opportunity Poland had to offer a reliable and cost-effective alternative to the ports of Northern Europe, local port authorities awarded DCT Gdansk a long-term concession to build and operate a new deep-sea container terminal on the edge of the Baltic Sea.

Beginning with a stretch of undeveloped coastline, MAM and its co-shareholders supported DCT Gdansk as it oversaw the greenfield development of the only port in the region able to serve Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV). With a quay length of 1,306 metres and a maximum depth of 17 metres, the port received its first vessel in 2007.

DCT Gdansk faced a difficult operating environment upon opening for business. The onset of the global financial crisis, combined with the unique nature of the direct call to Poland, made securing vessel calls for the new terminal challenging in its early years. MIAM and its co-shareholders supported efforts to market DCT Gdansk to global shipping lines and to diversify its customer base – positioning the port as a gateway into Poland and the markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

Ship-to-shore cranes

This perseverance was rewarded when the port began accepting direct calls from Asia in 2010, with container vessels capable of carrying 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of cargo arriving to transport Polish imports and exports. By 2011, DCT Gdansk was handling the world’s largest class of ship on a weekly basis.

With container volumes handled by the port expanding rapidly, MAM and its co-shareholders supported DCT Gdansk as it invested to grow capacity further. This culminated in the construction of a second quay in 2016, which saw the port’s annual throughput capacity double – increasing to ~3 million TEU. By the time MAM exited its investment in DCT Gdansk, the port was ranked amongst the 15 top container terminals in Europe².

Ship-to-shore cranes

DCT Gdansk following completion of the second quay in 2016

Contributing to the Polish economy

The growing container volumes handled by DCT Gdansk during MAM’s period of investment saw it become one of Europe’s fastest growing ports¹. Importantly, this growth – which was underpinned by MAM’s extensive experience and relationships in the ports sector – also resulted in substantial economic benefits for Poland, at both the regional and national levels.

MAM and its co-shareholders helped improve the efficiency of Polish imports and exports by supporting DCT Gdansk as it invested to enhance rail connectivity and partnered with freight providers to increase the rail share of cargo. DCT Gdansk’s rapid expansion also saw it become a major source of employment in the Pomerania region – with more than 900 people employed directly (and thousands more employed indirectly) in the region’s burgeoning maritime and logistics sectors.

Through its role in enabling further trade flows, DCT Gdansk has also helped generate additional customs duties and tax revenue – representing approximately €2 billion for Poland each year.