The Kraken, the Beefcake and the Vacuum Cleaner in action – work on the construction of the Maritime Transshipment Terminal is in full swing!

The construction of the Maritime Transshipment Terminal on Martwa Wisła is underway. Currently, the following activities are being carried out: pre-treatment works using highly specialized, modern machines, such as the “Kraken” dredger or a crawler excavator standing on the “Beefcake” pontoon. At the same time, the steel structure and process fittings of the future terminal are being constructed.

The Orlen Group’s investment is being carried out on Martwa Wisła, right next to the Gdańsk Refinery. Its project assumes the construction of a 380-meter transshipment quay that will handle marine vessels up to 130 meters long, with draft of up to approx. 5.8 meters and a width of up to 17.6 meters. Ultimately, two reloading stations will be built. Each of them will have four loading arms used to service tankers.

In addition, buildings will be constructed that will house the quay command centre and the management office of the transshipment process, as well as steel racks, process systems and underground and auxiliary infrastructure that will connect the new terminal to the refinery.
The general contractor of this project is a consortium composed of companies from the Sopot-based NDI Group, which is the leader, as well as Biproraf, BPBM “PROJMORS” and Dipl. Ing. SCHERZER GmbH.

What’s going on at the construction site?
– Currently, construction has entered the stage of erecting the steel structure and process fittings in the terminal area. Prefabricated elements of the steel structure and process pipelines are delivered and welded, says Maciej Klecha, construction manager from the NDI Group. – Additionally, finishing works on the Technical Support Building (BZT) are underway.

At the building, plastering works, installation of doors and windows, reinforcement and concreting of floors, painting works, and concealed system works in the field o: electrical, telecommunications, sanitary and ventilation disciplines are carried out.
At the same time, the General Contractor is carrying out pretreatment works on the Martwa Wisła River. For this purpose, it uses, among others, a dredger with a hydraulic excavator, which is called Kraken. A crawler excavator is also used; it is placed on a special pontoon called “Beefcake”. Meanwhile the dredger, like a vacuum cleaner, sucks in the spoil from dredging the bottom of the basin onboard.
In addition to the equipment for pretreatment works, traditional equipment is also used, i.e. wheeled cranes or telescopic lifts for the assembly of process elements or steel structures.

Fast pace of works
The construction of the investment project began at the beginning of last year. So far, the works have progressed at a rapid pace and a number of tasks have already been completed. The so-called reinforced concrete works on the quay, reloading piers and communication piers have been completed already. The shell condition of the BZT building has been achieved. A culvert under Sztutowska Street was constructed, as well as a manoeuvring yard within the low marina in the eastern part of the quay (this is the place where the lifeboat will be later launched). In addition, the installation of all hydrotechnical equipment at the quay has been completed, including: single-hook and two-hook self-releasing hooks, beams, fender rubbers and wall bollards.

All works are scheduled to be completed in 2025.

– In the near future, we will focus on the assembly of steel structures and loading arms on transshipment bridges and the construction of technological pipelines on the quay and on transshipment piers. We also have a concrete surface to complete, including on the waterfront and on the Sztutowska street – says Maciej Klecha, construction manager from NDI.
We also plan to install switchgear elements inside the BZT building and continue works related to the construction of substructures for future surfaces. We also have work to do in the sanitary, electrical and automatic disciplines related to the broadly understood transshipment process.

Greater profitability and safety
The Marine Transhipment Terminal for Petroleum Products will improve the profitability and security of supplies of biocomponents for the production of fuels (biogasoline and biodiesel) and the transport of products (base oils and marine fuels) produced in the refinery. The terminal will also relieve the burden on the railway siding operating at the plant, because this is the route where products are currently transported between the refinery and external transshipment points. The investment project is being built on the southern bank of the Martwa Wisła River, approximately 140 meters west of the existing quay.