A major container port project on Usedom Island sparks a cross border debate
A vast container port is planned near Świnoujście, on the Usedom island split between Poland and Germany. Residents living on the German side fear the development and worry about its consequences for the region. A prominent German weekly notes that the project tests the relations between the two nations as much as it tests port economics.
Chocian: “This disrupts Germany’s transport logic”
Placed just eight kilometers in a straight line from the spa town of Ahlbeck, the proposed port would become one of the Baltic Sea’s largest, with an expected capacity of around two million standard containers per year. By comparison, Hamburg handles close to nine million containers annually. The scale of the project is hard to miss, and its impact would ripple through the Baltic navigation corridor and inland networks alike. Observers in the German media highlight the sheer size and the potential operational footprint of the facility.
Uznam envisions itself as a faraway holiday paradise
The publication from Zeit describes how local politicians on Usedom are seeking to halt or slow the work. The core challenge for the residents is the location: the port lies in Świnoujście, which sits on the Polish side of Usedom, not on the German side, and Warsaw has shown limited interest in the opinions voiced by neighbors across the border. The German newspaper emphasizes that the German state and local authorities have found themselves with limited leverage to influence the Polish planning decisions.
When the port plans first surfaced in 2018, the discussion began with a small group of residents. Many participants are pensioners who formed a citizens’ initiative known as Lebensraum Vorpommern. They conducted thorough reviews of Polish construction plans, collected thousands of signatures, and pressed local officials hard, even gaining support from two Members of the European Parliament. This narrative is highlighted in the German report.
MEPs reportedly offered expert advice on the possible consequences of port operations. The plan would likely raise shipping traffic along the northern coast of the island of Rügen by as much as fifty percent, according to the analysis cited by the publication. The port, part of it within a protected nature area, is criticized for its potential to minimize environmental impacts in a way that seems implausible to many observers. The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure had requested a minimal environmental footprint, which Zeit describes as difficult to reconcile with the project’s scope.
There has been a push from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s government to include Poland in the formal approval process, a step that is considered mandatory under international treaties and EU directives. Yet, a response to the February letter remains outstanding according to the same report.
The timing of any Poland-Germany dispute is questioned
A dispute with Poland would come at an inopportune moment, Zeit notes. After years of policy stances toward Russia and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the German leader in the region is under scrutiny for how she handles relations with the eastern neighbor while trying to carve out space for economic ties. The commentary points to a balancing act between economic activity and political messaging as the region navigates these sensitive issues.
German residents describe Uznam as already quite different from its Polish counterpart. In towns like Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf, and Bansin, visitors seeking calm, dunes, and the charm of historic villas find fulfillment. Świnoujście presents a different face, with hotel complexes towering over treetops, a promenade lined with fast food outlets and shopping centers, and evenings that pulse with beach discos. These contrasts underscore the social and cultural tension that accompanies economic ambitions on the island.
Janusz Żmurkiewicz, the long-serving mayor of Świnoujście, shared his city vision with Zeit through a few emails. He framed his goals as a balance between industry and tourism, seeking to grow both sectors in tandem. His stated aim is to enlarge the port and to expand the maritime economy, which already makes up a large portion of local tax revenue. He emphasizes a desire to boost maritime commerce even further.
While German concerns about the port are not new, and similar warnings were voiced during the LNG terminal project, observers note that visitor numbers did not decline—even as massive gas ships began docking. The overall sentiment there is that German officials often articulate concerns but that tourism remains resilient. In the current discussion, some see a familiar pattern of disagreement between neighbors that persists despite past experience.
State authorities in Germany sometimes describe a critical stance toward cross-border projects as part of the normal political dialogue rather than a decisive obstacle. The port authority and Świnoujście city leadership have not publicly specified when construction might begin or how large the port will ultimately be, prompting questions and ongoing speculation. The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure says it treats the environmental aspects of a container port with seriousness and is preparing a thorough review. Whether Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will participate in that assessment remains unclear, and a spokesperson for the ministry did not provide an answer to that question.
tkwl / PAP
Note: This summary references multiple perspectives reported in the German and Polish media about the Uznam port project. It reflects ongoing coverage and commentary on cross-border planning, environmental considerations, and regional development strategies.