Heringsdorf calls for new environmental assessment for Swinemünde port construction!

Heringsdorf calls for new environmental assessment for Swinemünde port construction!

Big plans are being developed in Świnoujście that could affect not only the Polish coast but the whole of Europe. The new deep-sea port is intended to become a real economic engine for the region. How NDR reported, the original plans for the port are now being revised. Not only the harbor itself is planned, but also the creation of an island called “Przylądek Pomerania”, which is located in a bird sanctuary and will be visible from the island of Usedom and the municipality of Heringsdorf.

The construction costs amount to around 2.5 billion euros, which will be borne by the Polish state. It is noteworthy that the shipping channel for large container ships will be deepened to 17 meters, which is an increase compared to the originally planned 14.5 meters. The local mayor of Heringsdorf is calling for a reassessment of the cross-border environmental consequences due to the new developments. A citizens' initiative has already filed a lawsuit and sees the environmental concerns as not being sufficiently acknowledged.

Environmental concerns and legal disputes

The project faces strong resistance. German and Polish environmental awareness collide in this project. Loud daily news Organizations such as the citizens' initiative “Lebensraum Vorpommern” and the Polish “Green Islands” had already filed a lawsuit before construction to prevent environmental damage. A Warsaw court has now ruled that construction can continue despite these lawsuits because all necessary permits were obtained and no regulations were violated.

Judge Anita Wielopolska found that the Director General of Environmental Protection had taken all necessary votes into account. Plaintiffs continue to fear significant environmental damage to the seabed and the adjacent islands of Wolin and Usedom - both visible signs of the possible impact on nature.

The economic dimension

The dimensions of the port are enormous: with a construction volume of the equivalent of 584 million euros, or 2.3 billion euros including maritime infrastructure, it will be one of the largest projects in Poland. According to government officials such as Arkadiusz Marchewka, the project is a high priority and could significantly increase Poland's competitiveness on the Baltic Sea. The first container ships are expected to dock in the new port by 2029.

The Polish Navy will also be ready to intervene in the event of undiscovered ordnance from the Second World War in the port area. This circumstance shows how complex and multi-layered this major project is.

The plans for the port in Świnoujście are emblematic of a larger geopolitical and economic competition, the effects of which will be felt far beyond Poland's borders. The debate about the environment and development will continue to move people's hearts, because it is not just about a port, but about the future of the region as a whole.