Investments

Preparatory seabed works begin for Poland’s first FSRU terminal in the Bay of Gdańsk

GAZ-SYSTEM has launched dredging operations in the southern Bay of Gdańsk, marking a major milestone in the development of Poland’s first floating LNG terminal (FSRU – Floating Storage Regasification Unit). The seabed preparation, covering an area of approximately 656,000 m², is a key step prior to constructing the terminal’s quay and offshore infrastructure.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 29.07.2025, 21:22 Reading time: 2 min

The Van Oord dredging vessel with a red tug alongside on open water — fot. GAZ-SYSTEM

In brief

GAZ-SYSTEM has started dredging the seabed in the southern part of the Gulf of Gdańsk for Poland's first FSRU terminal, covering nearly 656 thousand square metres of water area in four stages. The regasification unit is being built at the Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries and will be moored near the Port of Gdańsk, with a capacity exceeding 6 billion cubic metres of gas per year. The European Commission granted up to EUR 19.6 million from the Connecting Europe Facility for the offshore part, and in June 2025 GAZ-SYSTEM signed a PLN 2.2 billion loan agreement with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. Commissioning of the terminal is planned for the turn of 2027 and 2028.

Four-phase dredging and environmental safeguards

The project began with clearing the seabed of ferromagnetic objects, followed by dredging operations divided into four distinct phases. The initial phase focuses on deepening the area where the terminal’s quay will be located. Subsequent stages will extend toward the protective breakwater currently being constructed by the Maritime Office in Gdynia, and eventually encompass the southern and eastern sectors of the marine construction site.

– Starting offshore works is a crucial step in the implementation of the FSRU Programme. Deepening the seabed ensures safe navigation and berthing of large LNG carriers, and lays the foundation for the future functioning of the entire facility, said Sławomir Hinc, CEO of GAZ-SYSTEM.

The construction process will be aligned with local marine environmental protection periods, particularly during sensitive biological cycles such as fish spawning. A portion of the dredged material will be repurposed to reinforce the beach in Górki Zachodnie, while the remainder will be deposited in a designated offshore dumping site.

Strategic infrastructure for energy security

The FSRU terminal in Gdańsk will serve as a new gas entry point to the Polish transmission system. Currently under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, the regasification vessel will be permanently moored near the Port of Gdańsk, close to the Baltic Hub container terminal and the approach fairway. The facility is designed to handle over 6 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, bolstering regional energy security and diversification of supply.

Once operational, the Gdańsk terminal will complement the existing LNG terminal in Świnoujście, positioning Poland as a key gas hub for Central and Eastern Europe.

Financing through EU and national recovery funds

The offshore component of the project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), with the European Commission allocating €19.6 million for preparatory works.

In June 2025, GAZ-SYSTEM signed a PLN 2.2 billion loan agreement with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) to fund the broader gas infrastructure expansion under Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO). The FSRU programme is aligned with REPowerEU, the EU strategy aimed at eliminating dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2030.

Commissioning expected in 2027–2028

The FSRU project includes the construction of the offshore terminal, an undersea gas pipeline, and nearly 250 km of new onshore transmission lines. Commissioning of the entire system is scheduled for late 2027 to early 2028.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier