This decision was made on Monday on request of the management of the company by Szczecin’s councillors. The zone will cover 40.8 ha of land located in the Gryfia and Ostrów Brdowski Islands. The Szczecin’s shipyard will be left with a little bit more than 5 ha. Such reduction of land, largely unused, will help cut the running costs of the facility. The fact that it will become part of the zone will encourage potential buyers.

“Converting the land to a Special Economic Zone will create favourable conditions to restore the economy, revive the area and create new jobs which the city and the region need so much,” said Vice-President Dariusz Wąs in support of the idea. “Considering that a number of enterprises has been shut down and their operation determined not only the growth of Szczecin, but also the region, it is essential to improve the competitiveness of the city’s economy. This is possible thanks to expansion of a Subzone of the EURO-PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone in Szczecin.

The plans, however, worry trade unions which claim that continuing of the operations on 5.4 ha will not be possible. They have also not been presented with detailed plans showing which area will be left for the shipyard. The trade unions argue that no matter how the plot will be divided, it will not be possible to retain all elements necessary for the facility, such as the quay or hull assembly facility. In their opinion, this means that either the owner is planning to limit the scope of activities of the plant or it will be necessary to rent the facilities outside the area of the shipyard from new owners. During the meeting of the City Council President of the Shipyard Dariusz Michalak dispelled the doubts saying that the continuation of the operation of the shipyard was obvious. This convinced the councillors who were unanimous in their vote for support of the subzone.

They could be additionally convinced by the fact that one investor has already turned up in the shipyard. In April Szczecińska Stocznia Remontowa „Gryfia” S.A. concluded a preliminary agreement to sell 20.9 ha of land located in the Ostrów Brdowski island. The investor, KSO Sp. z o.o., is a joint-venture established by three companies: Germany’s Bilfinger Berger (62.5% of shares), Gdynia’s Stocznia „CRIST” (25% of shares) and MARS Closed-End Fund owned by the Industrial Development Agency (12.5% of shares). The investor wants to create a modern plant which would produce foundations for marine wind turbines. The value of the project will go beyond EUR 50 million. It will create approx. 400 new jobs, part of them in research and development.

KZ