ORLEN has launched a new Marine Transshipment Terminal at its refinery in Gdańsk. The facility enables the direct transfer of products and intermediate goods between the refinery and tankers, without the need for additional transport stages. Its target handling capacity is expected to reach approximately 1.8–2 million tonnes per year.
The terminal was built on the Martwa Wisła river and has already handled its first vessels. The ships collected marine gas oil, or MGO, from the Gdańsk refinery and delivered components used in the production of FAME biofuels.
According to the company, the new infrastructure will shorten supply chains, increase the refinery’s operational flexibility and reduce its dependence on external port terminals in Gdańsk and Gdynia.
“ORLEN’s Marine Transshipment Terminal on the Martwa Wisła in Gdańsk is an important investment for the security and efficiency of fuel logistics in Poland. It shortens supply chains, increases the operational flexibility of the Gdańsk refinery and strengthens our operational independence,” said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO of ORLEN.
He emphasised that the investment was completed primarily with the involvement of Polish companies.
Two Berths for Tanker Operations
The new terminal has a quay with a total length of 380 metres. It features two identical berths, allowing two vessels to be handled simultaneously.
The terminal can accommodate vessels with a deadweight capacity of up to 10,000 DWT, a maximum length of 130 metres, a width of up to 17.6 metres and a draught of up to 5.8 metres.
Each berth is equipped with four automated, bidirectional loading arms. The installation can pump raw materials and products at a pressure of 10 bar, with a maximum capacity of 500 cubic metres per hour.
The bidirectional infrastructure enables both the collection of products manufactured at the refinery and the delivery of raw materials and components used in production processes.
Exports of Fuels and Refinery Products
The terminal will be used, among other purposes, to export Group I and Group II base oils, which are used in the production of engine, industrial and hydraulic oils.
It will also handle shipments of low-sulphur marine gas oil, used in the main engines and auxiliary equipment of vessels. Another product intended for transshipment is xylene, which is used in the chemical industry as a solvent and production feedstock.
In the opposite direction, the terminal will handle deliveries of FAME and UCOME to the refinery. These are biocomponents used in the production of fuels containing renewable feedstocks, including used cooking oils.
The terminal will also be used to import ethanol and the fuel additives MTBE and ETBE, which are applied, among other purposes, to increase the octane rating of petrol.
Around 100 Vessels in the First Year
During its first year of operation, the terminal is expected to handle around 100 vessels and approximately 500,000 tonnes of products. The scale of activity is expected to increase gradually in subsequent years.
The facility’s target capacity is estimated at approximately 1.8–2 million tonnes of cargo per year. Reaching this level will depend on factors including the refinery’s demand, production structure and import and export destinations.
ORLEN says that direct access to maritime transport should reduce logistics costs and limit the use of road and rail transport. It may also reduce the number of transshipment operations and shorten the time required to deliver raw materials or collect finished products.
The investment was worth nearly PLN 500 million. The terminal is one of the elements of the expansion of logistics infrastructure supporting the operations of the Gdańsk refinery.
