The Transport Week 2025 conference, held for the first time at the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia (PPNT Gdynia), brought together industry experts to discuss critical developments in the maritime and transport sectors. The two-day event focused on European transport policy, port investment strategies, and sustainable solutions with particular emphasis on electrification.
European ports find themselves “in the middle of the challenges but also in the middle of the solutions,” according to Isabelle Ryckbost from the European Sea Ports Organisation. She highlighted Europe’s increased focus on economic diplomacy and larger military budgets, encouraging ports to take more assertive actions.
Steve Wray from Infrata outlined significant changes affecting Baltic shipping routes, including the absence of direct services to Baltic or Nordic countries and the introduction of dedicated ‘shuttle’ connections for major shipping companies. Meanwhile, cybersecurity expert Christopher Stein warned about the consequences of transition to computer-based systems, emphasizing that cybersecurity challenges extend beyond hackers and malware to include software quality issues.
Investment strategies at Polish ports
The conference highlighted major infrastructure developments at Poland’s key ports:
The Port of Gdynia presented plans for its Outer Port, described as “a very modern extension of the Port of Gdynia towards the sea” by Ewelina Ziajka. The port is focusing on expanding its portfolio and improving hinterland connections.
Maksymilian Czapiewski outlined the Port of Gdańsk’s investment plans, including a secure parking facility, FRSU Terminal, shore power supply system, integrated border control point, and connecting Naftoport to national and international pipeline networks.
Rafał Zahorski detailed investments at the Ports of Szczecin-Świnoujście, highlighting their strategic location and universality. He specifically mentioned plans for a Green Terminal in Ostrów Grabowski, designed to service inland vessels and vehicles using alternative fuels.
Electrification – progress and challenges
Electrification emerged as a central theme of the conference. Krzysztof Krawiec from the Polish Economic Institute described it as “a key aspect of EU’s plan for a sustainable transport system,” while discussing EU policies, challenges, and future outlook.
Jan Jarmakowski from Gdynia Container Terminal shared details about GCT’s participation in the Blue Supply Chain project, which aims to modernize existing transshipment equipment to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
Port electrification initiatives were showcased by various speakers:
- Džiugas Šaulys revealed the Port of Klaipeda’s focus on energy projects, including plans for five onshore power supply stations by next March, along with hydrogen and green fleet initiatives.
- Erik Eskling Hansen highlighted Ystad’s new ro-ro terminal with modern facilities including onshore power connection and infrastructure for LNG-powered vessels.
- Mikołaj Magiełka outlined Gdynia Container Terminal’s plans to replace diesel engines with transformers and power cables, potentially reducing annual diesel consumption from 420,000 to 20,000 liters and decreasing CO2 emissions by approximately 1 million kg per year.
Onshore Power Supply (OPS) implementation
The second day focused significantly on shore-side power. Hanno Bromeis from Hamburg Port Authority identified three key technical challenges for OPS implementation: power availability, service area positioning, and quay wall configuration. He noted that fossil fuel prices still make OPS “a hard sell” commercially.
During panel discussions, experts offered varied perspectives on OPS adoption:
- Dr. Ernest Czermański from the University of Gdańsk characterized OPS as “still a niche,” predicting it would take “about 20 to 25 years for the solution to actually work in a conventional way.”
- Lawrence Henesey from Blekinge Institute of Technology emphasized the need for financing solutions as thousands of ports worldwide are pushed toward green infrastructure.
Innovative technologies
The Hypobatt project received significant attention during the conference. Dr. Yash Kotak presented this initiative to develop a modular, fast, and simple multi-megawatt charging system for electric vessels, initially targeting ferry service between North German ports.
George Kostalas from Rhoé discussed the application of digital twin technology for system optimization in the Hypobatt project, explaining how virtual representations of physical systems can help drive decision-making through dynamic data updates.
The Transport Week 2025 demonstrated the maritime industry’s commitment to addressing both immediate operational challenges and long-term sustainability goals, with particular focus on how ports can balance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in an evolving global landscape.
