Korporacja Budowlana DORACO will carry out the rebuilding of the western breakwater in the Port of Darłowo and the construction of a new groyne, which will improve the safety of shipping and protect the port against strong waves. The contractor signed a contract for this investment with the Maritime Office in Szczecin. The modernisation of the infrastructure will increase the strategic importance of the port and bring it closer to serving the offshore wind sector in the Baltic. The works, worth nearly PLN 120 million, will start already in March.

A New Quality of the Port of Darłowo

On Friday 28 February, in Szczecin, the Korporacja Budowlana DORACO signed a contract with the Maritime Office in Szczecin for the hydrotechnical investment ‘Redevelopment of breakwaters in the Port of Darłowo along with the improvement of the wave conditions inside the basin through the construction of new hydrotechnical facilities’. This is the Authority’s first project under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). EKO-INWEST S.A. is the contract engineer for the project.

The contract signing ceremony was attended by Arkadiusz Marchewka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Arkadiusz Wojciech Klimowicz, Mayor of Darłowo, Wojciech Zdanowicz, Director of the Maritime Office in Szczecin, Angelika Cieślowska, President of the Management Board of Korporacja Budowlana DORACO, Jacek Kamiński, Member of the Management Board of Korporacja Budowlana DORACO, Sławomir Kopeć, Financial Director of EKO-INWEST S.A.

The new structure of the breakwater, built in the second half of the 19th century, will be constructed within the contour of the existing structure by installing a new sheet pile wall and building a new reinforced concrete structure of the breakwater. The breakwater structure will be protected with a stone embankment. Modern technical equipment will be installed on the breakwater and groyne, in line with current standards. The project includes, among other things, a new fender system, boarding ladders, rescue equipment, guard rails, navigation lights at the breakwater heads and full lighting of the entire infrastructure.

Safety for Ships and Tourists

The project includes comprehensive reconstruction of the 356.5m-long western breakwater and construction of a 100m-long groyne. These solutions will provide the port with effective protection against rough waves and storm surges, which have hitherto hampered the safe manoeuvring of ships. As a result of the planned modernisation, navigational comfort will be improved and the port’s already overdue infrastructure will become resistant to erosion and extreme weather conditions.

– We are pleased to be able to implement such an important project for the region and the Polish maritime economy. Redevelopment of the Darłowo breakwater is not only an investment in the safety of shipping. It is also a milestone in the development of the town and a valuable tourist attraction. Finally, it is a key step in preparing the port for new challenges. We see the potential of the Darłowo Port as a future service facility for the offshore wind sector in Poland. Thanks to this modernisation, the port will gain modern infrastructure, which can play an important role in the development of offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea – says Angelika Cieślowska, President of the Management Board, Korporacja Budowlana DORACO.

The first works in Darłowo will begin in March 2025, and the investment is planned to be completed in 2026. The relatively fast completion time is dependent on the deadline resulting from the NRRP. In addition, the works will be carried out respecting the city’s tourist season.

DORACO Builds and Shares Hydrotechnical Expertise

The DORACO Building Corporation has for years been implementing demanding hydrotechnical projects in Poland, both offshore and inland. The company has a number of strategic port infrastructure investments to its credit, which have increased the safety and functionality of key facilities on the Baltic Sea. Among DORACO’s completed projects are the expansion of the Hel Quay in the Port of Gdynia, the modernisation of the Dąbrowiecki Quay and the deepening of the Kaszubski Basin in the Port of Szczecin, the modernisation of the infrastructure of the GRYFIA shipyard in Szczecin, and the reconstruction of the Frombork Fishing Port.

Along with successive investments in hydraulic engineering, DORACO experts are deepening their knowledge and gaining new experience, which they share by giving lectures at the Gdańsk University of Technology. Marine hydraulic engineering here is the only postgraduate course in this specialist area in Poland. Future professionals gain not only theoretical knowledge, but also acquire practical skills for future projects for Polish ports on the Baltic.

Source: Korporacja Budowlana DORACO