VESSEL PORTAGE ACROSS THE VISTULA SANDBAR TO CONNECT THE VISTULA LAGOON WITH THE GDAŃSK BAY WITHOUT A CUT-THROUGH THE SANDBAR – A CONCEPT

• Main Author: Sławomir Sajkiewicz
• Format: Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2016-12-01
• Series: Inżynieria Ekologiczna
• Subjects: Vistula Sandbar; Vistula Lagoon; Gdańsk Bay; crosscut; transport of vessel
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/ie/KONCEPCJA-TRANSPORTU-STATKOW-PRZEZ-MIERZEJE-WISLANA-LACZACEGO-ZALEW-WISLANY-Z-ZATOKA-GDANSKA-BEZ-PRZEKOPU-MIERZEI-WISLANEJ,65861,0,2.html

The construction of canal (cut-through the Vistula Sandbar) to build a water way connecting the Vistula Lagoon and the Gdańsk Bay has long been considered. In 1945, engineer Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski (the constructor of the Gdynia seaport) planned to realize such an investment. In 1947, the City Municipality in Elbląg developed a study entitled: ‘Are there any and what type of possibilities to economically rebuild the town of Elbląg?’. In 1966 and 2000 professor Tadeusz Jednorał developed a concept of construction of a canal (cut-through) the Vistula Sandbar, connecting the Vistula Lagoon with the Gdańsk Bay. Further technical and ecological documentations were produced while the technical, economical and social aspects of a canal cutting through the Vistula Sandbar presented therein, raised considerable doubts including protests. That is why the relevant ecological documentations were developed complete with forecasts of negative effects of canal construction and vessel accomodation. Alternative solution for transporting ships across the Vistula Sandbar was presented by the ‘SAJMOR’ Environmental Protection Projects Bureau in 2008. As was announced in May 2016, the Government of Poland passed a resolution to carry on with the programme ‘Construction of waterway linking the Vistula Lagoon with the Gdańsk Bay’, taking no account of restrictions stemming from ecological regulations concerning Natura 2000 sites. With reference to the above decision, a debate with the participation of opponents will be necessary to discuss ecological, technical and economical arguments for the construction of a cut-through across the Vistula Sandbar to link the Vistula Lagoon with the Gdańsk Bay.