Baltic Container Terminal welcomes new MSC service

International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) says its operation firm in the Port of Gdynia, Poland, Baltic Container Terminal (BCT), has welcomed the inaugural call of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) Britannia Ocean Service.

In a statement, ICTSI said MSC’s new service made its inaugural call in BCT on April 9 marked by the arrival of the MSC Rose. It offers a direct deep-sea connection between Asia and Northern Europe, covering major commercial ports such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Vung Tau, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, and Liverpool.

“BCT’s inclusion in MSC’s new service strengthens the Port of Gdynia’s role as a deep-water port and highlights our terminal’s modern facilities. We expect the service to increase export transshipment volume and boost intermodal operations,” said Wojciech Szymulewicz, BCT Chief Executive Officer.

 “With the arrival of this new service, we embrace the opportunity to expand our role in international maritime trade and make the Port of Gdynia more globally competitive,” he added.

BCT moved a total of 8,200 TEUs during the call of the 364-meter-long MSC ROSE, which was followed by the call of the 366-meter-long MSC DARIA on April 17. The vessels have capacities of 15,500 TEUs and 15,264 TEUs, respectively. Receiving regular calls from these ultra large container vessels highlights BCT’s capability to handle the largest vessels in existence, underlining the terminal’s strategic importance in the Baltic Sea region.

In May 2003, ICTSI was awarded a 20-year concession by the Port Authority of Gydnia to develop, operate and manage the container terminal in Pomerania, Gydnia, Poland. ICTSI purchased Baltycki Terminal Kontenerowy Sp. z. o. o. (BCT), which had held the lease to the terminal. Poland’s window to the world, BCT is strategically located within pan-European transport corridors and railway routes, and with excellent road and on-dock rail connectivity to inland Europe.