Gdańsk plots course as Szczecin sells up
As Solidarity celebrates its 25th anniversary, many in the organization will be anxious to see a deal struck for the union's birthplace.
The state is still trying to decide what to do with one of Poland's most famous pieces of real estate, the Gdańsk Shipyard. The government was hoping to merge it with several other shipyards and create a sector corporation, but it is also open to the idea of a new large investor taking over this piece of Polish history. And it won't have to look hard for interested parties, it seems.
"I hope to receive a letter of intent from one of the large European shipyard groups interested in a capital engagement in Grupa Stoczni Gdynia [which owns the Gdańsk Shipyard]," said Arkadiusz Krężel, the president of the Industrial Development Agency (ARP). Although the name of the potential investor was not revealed, sector analysts claim that it might be Norway's Aker.
"The representatives of Aker visited the shipyard several times," Roman Gałęzewski, head of Grupa Stoczni Gdynia's Solidarity branch, told Puls Biznesu. "We are not discrediting any of the investors. We are afraid though that Aker is not planning on building ships here. Norway is not in the EU, it has its own aid system for the sector," he added.
Meanwhile the liquidator of the Stocznia Szczecińska (Szczecin Shipyard) has begun selling several properties owned by the shipyard that are spread around the city. Office buildings, sports facilities, a kindergarten and a nursery school are all among the properties Syndyk Masy Upadłości Stoczni Szczecińskiej Porta Holding has on offer. In total, 25 properties with a combined total of 37 hectares of space will be sold off.
"Generally, these are properties outside of [ship] production. There are only a couple warehouses, for example, on ul. Druckiego-Lubeckiego," says Marcin Gos, from the firm.
There are a host of properties available for investors. The building and grounds of the former Korab Cultural Center on ul.1 Maja has an asking price of zł.3,550,000. The marina on ul. Przestrzenna can be you own personal dock for zł.4,450,000. Land currently occupied by the Stal Szczecin football club on ul. Bandurskiego is kicking around for zł.3,117,000. A sports field on ul. Kazimeirza Królewicza is also on the table for zł.2,844,000. The company has a full list of real estate at www.portaholding.pl but interested parties better have their cash at the ready - offers should be submitted by September 12.
Laurence Mackin
