Chinese in the Polish port? Deputy Minister of Infrastructure about the purchase of the Terminal in Gdynia: We monitor the transaction

The Ministry of Infrastructure monitors the situation related to the potential takeover of shares in the Gdynia container terminal by the American consortium – Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka informed PAP. Terminal owner – CK Hutchison's conglomerate, conducts talks about the inclusion of the “strategic” investor from China in the transaction.

“The Ministry of Infrastructure is in a constant process of monitoring what is happening as part of the terminal's activities. The transaction between the current terminal owner and the American consortium is also supervised by us,” Deputy Minister Marchewka, who is responsible for maritime economy and inland navigation, said in PAP.

On Monday, CK Hutchison, a conglomerate with Chinese capital based in Hong Kong, announced that he was conducting talks with the Chinese “strategic investor” (sources point to the State Przedsiębiorstwo Transportowe Cosco) about joining a consortium that wants to take over his global port assets valued at $ 22.8 billion. These assets include 43 ports in 23 countries.

One of them is Gdynia Container Terminal (GCT)which was established in 2005, when Hutchison Ports purchased post -core areas in the port of Gdynia at the Bulgarian quay. The lease is valid until 2089.

The port of the Hong Congan ownership became loud after the 2023 incident, when the American transport ship MV Cape Ducato, which carried military equipment, did not obtain permission to moor at the terminal quay.

Although the reasons for this event were not indicated, it caused a debate on the safety of port infrastructure, especially in the context of GCT location near the key military resources. The terminal is located several hundred meters from the dock used, among others for transhipment of supply of weapons for Ukraine.

As a result, in 2024, the terminal was entered on the list of critical infrastructure facilities of the Government Security Center, which means that it is under special state supervision.

Carrot, asked by PAP whether this is also associated with the control of the provisions of the agreement between Hutchison and potential buyers, assured that “all decisions that are required by the Ministry's right would be made at the time when the basis will be the basis, i.e. when the relevant documentation is received by the ministry.”

The broader context of transactions are the lasting one from March this year. Talks about the global sales of Hutchison ports, initiated after the appeals of the US President Donald Trump about “regaining control” over the Panama Canal, where Hutchison is the operator of two ports. Trump's acquisition of ownership over these terminals was presented as part of the fight against Chinese presence in strategic shopping points.

Negotiations, conducted in the exclusive formula with the American Blackrock Fund and the Italian MSC group, were to end by July 27. However, the deadline has passed and the conversations are dragging. The current shape of the agreement is opposed to Beijing, who described them as “betrayal of national interests” and initiated proceedings to examine the transaction in terms of violation of antitrust provisions and threats to national security. The sources of the Reuters agency indicate that the inclusion of the Chinese investor in the consortium could lead the authorities in Beijing to accept the contract.

Maria Wiśniewska (PAP)

MWS/ MAL/ MHR/