Polish Ocean Lines wants to provide maritime transport services for the military and transport LNG

In accordance with the new strategy for 2026-2030, Polish Ocean Lines (PLO) intends to invest in ships serving, among others, for military transports and intended for the transport of LNG – the Industrial Development Agency, which owns most of the PLO shares, told PAP.

In September this year the general meeting of Polish Ocean Lines (PLO) approved the company's strategy for 2026-2030. The Industrial Development Agency (ARP) currently has 98.25 percent. PLO shares, the remaining shares belong to Gdynia Shipyard (0.75%) and employees (1%).

As the Agency told PAP, the first project that PLO intends to implement as part of its development strategy is the purchase of a used ro-ro ship, a sister unit to the currently owned ones (ro-ro ships are ships that enable easy loading and unloading of goods transported on wheels – PAP). The Industrial Development Agency reported that the purchase value of such a ship is approximately PLN 160 million. “Currently, there is an increased demand for goods transport services on the sea transport market, therefore the purchase of a ro-ro vessel may be an opportunity for the company's development,” the Agency said. This ship has the option of dual-use, also for transporting “specific groups of military technology for own and allied troops.”

ARP assumes that the purchase of another ro-ro ship will result in “strengthening the current potential and increasing revenues, and in the future it will create the potential to recreate the Mediterranean line” that PLO once operated. Revenues from the enlarged fleet will also allow for an increase in the company's financial potential, which will enable further investments and expansion of the PLO offer – emphasized the Industrial Development Agency.

The agency also plans to enter a new market by purchasing a used LNG bunker (ship for transporting liquefied natural gas – PAP) or building several LNG bunkers in Polish shipyards. The company indicated various sources of financing for such projects, such as loans, recapitalization from the Industrial Development Agency, own funds, KPO, budget funds and possible involvement in projects of other financial institutions.

The company's strategy also includes the construction of new tonnage units in the MPV Coasters category (an MPV coaster is a small multi-purpose vessel intended for coastal navigation – PAP) with the possibility of transporting heavy/project cargo (heavy and oversized – PAP) also with the possibility of including the ice class in the project (ICE CLASS), i.e. adapted to navigation in ice conditions, with special reinforcement of the hull and the propulsion system.

“The project involves the construction of two multi-purpose short-sea shipping units / minibulker 4,000 – 6,000 DWT (vessel for transporting bulk cargo over short distances – PAP)” at the national shipyard, the ARP reported. Ships of this type could enter the port in Elbląg. “You can enter this market indirectly through bareboat (charter of a ship without crew – PAP),” the company said.

ARP emphasized that PLO is already conducting preliminary talks with the financial market, which is “potentially interested in participating” in these projects.

She added that as part of the implementation of the PLO strategy, it will continue to develop shipchandling activities (supplying ships in sea ports with food and necessary products).

Polish Ocean Lines is a ship-owner company with 75 years of tradition in liner shipping. At the time of establishment, they had 43 ships with a deadweight capacity of over 200,000 tonnes. DWT and operated 13 shipping lines. The company states that its range then included ports in the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle and Far East, as well as on the eastern coast of South America. In the 1970s, the PLO fleet increased to 176 units with a total carrying capacity exceeding 1.2 million DWT, and annual transport increased to over 5 million tons. Employment increased to over 10,000. people. The flagship ship of the PLO was the transatlantic ship m/s Batory, later replaced by the “Stefan Batory”.

Since March 1996, after the establishment of six shipowner companies, PLO's activity as a shipowner was practically ended. At the beginning of 1999, the PLO Group consisted of 12 companies (2 in the liquidation phase), including 5 shipping companies. All of them employed approximately 3,000 people. people, including 1,450 sailors. On June 29, 1999, the state-owned enterprise PLO was transformed into a joint-stock company.

Currently, the company's activities focus on providing sea transport services. PLO has two ro-ro vessels: POL STELLA and FRANCESCO NULLO, which operate on the charter market between ports in Italy and ports in Turkey.

PLO also runs the shipchandling business POL-Supply. (PAP)

ab/ drag/ mhr/ ana/