DCT Gdansk celebrates its first year in style

The celebrations took place on the terminal apron in a transparent marquee, enabling the guests to view the terminal in operation. The marquee was flanked on one side by a wall of containers depicting the principal customers of DCT Gdansk, while on the other side guests had a grandstand view of the 1,223 teu container ship Maersk Rome arriving, loading and then sailing before the party ended. In total, 269 containers, equivalent to 528 teu, were handled using three cranes, each averaging 35 container moves per hour.

Maersk Line is the latest customer to be signed up by DCT Gdansk, but the arrival of the red-hulled Maersk Rome was a surprise to many. The Danish line’s contract does not take effect until December 1, 2008, when Maersk will switch its Polish operations from Gdynia to DCT Gdansk. Maersk executives explained that they had wanted to do something special to celebrate DCT Gdansk’s birthday, and apologised that they had not been able to arrange “a blue one”.

In less than a year of activity, DCT Gdansk has acquired the cooperation of the largest shipping line in the world, along with many other customers. Its current monthly turnover exceeds 10,000 teu, and this will be multiplied in the coming months with the arrival of Maersk’s vessels.