The Port of Gdańsk Authority SA has engaged in relief efforts for our eastern neighbors who have found themselves in a dramatic situation. It purchased and delivered medical equipment, power generators, power banks, and laptops to Odesa.
– In connection with the current situation, I asked Ukrainian friends working in our industry to indicate the most urgent needs. From the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, we received a list of necessary medicines and medical equipment, including defibrillators and resuscitators. The Ukrainian Logistics Alliance (ULA), an association of freight forwarders, logistics and transport companies, as well as the Ukrainian Territorial Defense, requested power generators, power banks, and laptops. And we started acting so that the aid would reach Ukraine as quickly as possible – reports Michał Stupak, Client Manager at the Port of Gdańsk Authority.
The transport set off from Gdańsk on March 4. It reached Odesa after two days.
Gdańsk’s contacts with Odesa have a very long history, dating back to the late 1990s. In recent years, our activity has increased significantly in connection with plans to create a Gdańsk-Odesa transport corridor and the signing of a letter of intent in October 2020 between the Port of Gdańsk Authority and the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority regarding mutual cooperation. Since then, representatives of the ports have been exchanging knowledge and experience gained, which in the future is intended to optimize logistics chains and thus increase the volumes of handled goods.
– I have known Artiom Khachaturian from a logistics company dealing with container and ro-ro handling in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk for 3 years, and we have been working with Olga Zerkalova from Odesa, to whom we owe a lot in terms of connecting Polish and Ukrainian businesses, for 5 years now on organizing various transport conferences. We empathize with their situation; we cannot remain indifferent – adds Michał Stupak.
Furthermore, the Port of Gdańsk has decided to waive the passenger fee for Polska Żegluga Bałtycka SA. Polferries ferries transport Ukrainian refugees to Sweden free of charge upon presentation of documents. Readiness has been increased by the authorities of the municipalities of Ystad and Trelleborg and Karlskrona in southern Sweden, as well as Nynäshamn near Stockholm, where ferries from Gdańsk arrive. There, at the ferry terminal, a collection of donations for Ukraine is also being conducted by the Filippus organization in cooperation with Polska Żegluga Bałtycka (Polferries).
– This is not the end of the Port of Gdańsk’s support for Ukraine. The Port of Gdańsk Authority has just signed a tripartite agreement with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk and the Kador company, which deals with industrial logistics on port premises, including the production of transport packaging. – The Kador company has agreed to make its warehouse available to Caritas, where packages with aid for Ukraine will be stored – explains Kamil Tarczewski, Vice President of the Port of Gdańsk for Infrastructure. – In the face of the tragedy that has befallen our eastern neighbors, support is our civic and moral duty. The Port of Gdańsk Authority is a socially sensitive organization, which is why we made the decision to engage in relief efforts.