ORLEN SA has inaugurated its nearly PLN 500 million Marine Transshipment Terminal on the Martwa Wisła River in Gdańsk, establishing direct waterborne connectivity for its refinery. Built largely by domestic companies, the advanced 380-metre facility features two berths capable of simultaneous vessel handling and a maximum annual throughput of up to 2 million tonnes. The terminal is set to significantly optimize Baltic bunker supply chains, reduce overland logistics pressures, and streamline the export of marine gas oil and base oils alongside the import of crucial biofuel components.
GDAŃSK | August 5, 2026 – Polish multi-energy giant ORLEN has inaugurated its state-of-the-art Marine Transshipment Terminal at the Gdańsk refinery. Marking the completion of one of the Group’s most pivotal logistical milestones, the nearly PLN 500 million (approx. EUR 116 million) facility establishes direct waterborne connectivity between the refinery complex and seagoing tankers.
By bypassing intermediate transport modes, the infrastructure significantly optimizes regional bunker supply chains, curtails overland logistics pressures, and reinforces operational independence for Poland’s critical energy network.
Direct Logistics and Strategic Independence
Situated on the Martwa Wisła River along the northern perimeter of the Gdańsk refinery, the terminal eliminates the historic need for intermediate transport steps such as regional trucking or internal rail transfers.
Highlighting the wider implications of the project, Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the ORLEN Management Board, stated:
“The ORLEN Marine Transshipment Terminal on the Martwa Wisła River in Gdańsk is a strategically important project that will enhance the security and efficiency of Poland’s fuel logistics. It shortens the supply chain, increases the operational flexibility of the Gdańsk refinery and strengthens our operational independence. We are particularly pleased that Polish companies played a leading role in delivering such an advanced facility. It demonstrates that Polish businesses are capable of delivering strategically important projects to the highest technological and organisational standards.”
Built largely by domestic contractors, the terminal stands as a testament to local engineering expertise, aligning high-level technical execution with stringent organizational benchmarks.
Technical Specifications & Infrastructure
Engineered to accommodate rigorous marine and industrial standards, the terminal features robust layout dimensions and high-performance loading equipment:
- Quay Infrastructure: A 380-metre-long quay equipped with two identical berths, allowing the facility to service two vessels simultaneously.
- Vessel Parameters: Each berth is capable of handling vessels up to 10,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt), with a maximum overall length of 130 metres, a beam of 17.6 metres, and a maximum operational draught of 5.8 metres.
- Loading Systems: The berths are outfitted with a total of four automated, bidirectional marine loading arms operating at a pressure rating of 10 bar, delivering an impressive transfer capacity of up to 500 cubic metres per hour (500 m3/h).
Portfolio of Handled Cargoes: Bunkering and Feedstocks
The terminal is designed for dual-direction flexibility, managing specialized chemical exports alongside vital green energy and petroleum product imports:
| Cargo Type | Product Categories | Primary Industrial / Marine Applications |
| Outbound Exports | Group I & Group II Base Oils | Formulation of high-grade engine and hydraulic oils |
| Low-Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (MGO) | Powering commercial vessels’ main propulsion engines and auxiliary machinery | |
| Xylene | Essential industrial solvent utilized heavily within the chemical sector | |
| Inbound Imports | FAME & UCOME | Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and Used Cooking Oil Methyl Esters for mandatory biofuel blending |
| Ethanol | Environmentally friendly petrol blending component | |
| MTBE & ETBE | Ether additives designed to elevate the octane ratings of finished motor petrols |
Operational Roadmap and Economic Impact
Operational activity at the new hub is already underway. The terminal has successfully welcomed its inaugural commercial callers, which safely loaded low-sulphur Marine Gas Oil (MGO) derived directly from the refinery and discharged Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) designated for immediate biofuel synthesis.
- First-Year Projections: During its inaugural year of operation, ORLEN anticipates handling approximately 100 vessel calls totaling roughly 0.5 million tonnes of diverse petroleum products and feedstocks.
- Long-Term Capacity: The ultimate annual throughput capacity of the facility is projected to scale up to between 1.8 million and 2.0 million tonnes.
- Supply Chain Optimization: By shifting substantial volume profiles directly to the water, the terminal minimizes localized road and rail bottlenecks, slashes logistics overheads, and decreases overall commercial reliance on external port infrastructure across Gdańsk and Gdynia.
About ORLEN SA
ORLEN SA is committed to powering the future for more than 100 million Europeans while redefining the landscape of regional energy security and sustainability. As a frontrunner in Central Europe’s energy transition, the company is actively deploying eco-friendly technologies, scaling up low- and zero-emission generation assets, and modernizing its core industrial infrastructure. By harmonizing traditional business value with a rigorous decarbonization roadmap, ORLEN is successfully delivering advanced, customer-centric solutions that drive long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Source: ORLEN