Politicians object to Gdansk Shipyard sale
The Gdansk management board last week appealed a bankruptcy court decision to award the shipyard to Gdynia. Several political parties have also stepped into the fray, deeming the decision as "harmful to Polish economic interests." They are afraid that the shipyard will be split up and sold in pieces, particularly the potentially valuable land located in the center of Gdansk.
"The decision sealed the fate of Gdansk Shipyard," said Dariusz Grabowski, MP with the Movement for Poland's Reconstruction (ROP), one of the parties which signed the protest. "The shipyard will not be a shipyard any longer, it will become a subject of speculative deals."
Maybe more importantly, Grabowski fears that the shipyard will lose its historical value if it stops operating.
"It will be more attractive to sell the site and earn money than to bother with the financial reconstruction of Gdansk Shipyard," he said.
But Gdynia's President Janusz Szlanta insisted his company would continue to carry out full production activities at Gdansk, and that the shipyard would maintain its identity and historical character. As for selling off its assets, particularly the land, the issue is not as easy as it seems, he said.
"The shipyard's premises are divided into three areas: A, B and C," Szlanta said. "Part A is the one closest to the city and eventually might be sold."
Area A occupies 30-40 hectares, Szlanta said, but selling it is not a simple process.
"First of all, it's partly leased, and some of the lease agreements are long-term ones," Szlanta said.
To sell it or develop it, however, Gdynia would have to first get the city's permission, which is likely to be a difficult process that could take up to two years, the city's office said.
"There are still no analyses regarding the area," said Roman Sebastyanski of the department of promotion and real estate marketing in Gdansk City Hall.
And while the shipyard's proximity close to the city center may make it an attractive development site, the problems of dealing with a historical location, along with any potential environmental problems that may arise from its use as a shipyard, make it less attractive, real estate executives said.
On top of that, Gdansk already has enough available sites to satisfy investor demand, Sebastyanski said.
The lots are located in the Glowne Miasto and Wyspa Spichrzow areas and range in size from several square meters to several hectares, with prices of $150-$200 per square meter.
But there are other problems that might negatively affect the overall attractiveness of the shipyard's premises. "It lacks proper infrastructure," Sebastyanski said, "like connecting roads and parking facilities."
But the environmental issues are probably the weightier issue. "Even if there is no contamination deep in the soil, the surface still has to be replaced," said Jacek Wisniewski, a consultant with environmental consulting company Bruun & Sorensen.
Michal Kubicki, development director at Echo Investment, estimated that the costs of merely "cleaning" the works - removing the oil and iron that may have contaminated the soil - will easily exceed $1 million and could even be double that amount.
"The decision sealed the fate of Gdansk Shipyard," said Dariusz Grabowski, MP with the Movement for Poland's Reconstruction (ROP), one of the parties which signed the protest. "The shipyard will not be a shipyard any longer, it will become a subject of speculative deals."
Maybe more importantly, Grabowski fears that the shipyard will lose its historical value if it stops operating.
"It will be more attractive to sell the site and earn money than to bother with the financial reconstruction of Gdansk Shipyard," he said.
But Gdynia's President Janusz Szlanta insisted his company would continue to carry out full production activities at Gdansk, and that the shipyard would maintain its identity and historical character. As for selling off its assets, particularly the land, the issue is not as easy as it seems, he said.
"The shipyard's premises are divided into three areas: A, B and C," Szlanta said. "Part A is the one closest to the city and eventually might be sold."
Area A occupies 30-40 hectares, Szlanta said, but selling it is not a simple process.
"First of all, it's partly leased, and some of the lease agreements are long-term ones," Szlanta said.
To sell it or develop it, however, Gdynia would have to first get the city's permission, which is likely to be a difficult process that could take up to two years, the city's office said.
"There are still no analyses regarding the area," said Roman Sebastyanski of the department of promotion and real estate marketing in Gdansk City Hall.
And while the shipyard's proximity close to the city center may make it an attractive development site, the problems of dealing with a historical location, along with any potential environmental problems that may arise from its use as a shipyard, make it less attractive, real estate executives said.
On top of that, Gdansk already has enough available sites to satisfy investor demand, Sebastyanski said.
The lots are located in the Glowne Miasto and Wyspa Spichrzow areas and range in size from several square meters to several hectares, with prices of $150-$200 per square meter.
But there are other problems that might negatively affect the overall attractiveness of the shipyard's premises. "It lacks proper infrastructure," Sebastyanski said, "like connecting roads and parking facilities."
But the environmental issues are probably the weightier issue. "Even if there is no contamination deep in the soil, the surface still has to be replaced," said Jacek Wisniewski, a consultant with environmental consulting company Bruun & Sorensen.
Michal Kubicki, development director at Echo Investment, estimated that the costs of merely "cleaning" the works - removing the oil and iron that may have contaminated the soil - will easily exceed $1 million and could even be double that amount.
