Port of Gdansk, Poland, Integrated Waste Reception Facilities
The Port of Gdansk operates integrated waste reception facilities serving vessels calling at the port, aligning with MARPOL requirements and European Union Directive 2019/883 on Port Reception Facilities for the Delivery of Waste from Ships (Port of Gdansk, 2024; European Union, 2019). The facilities provide reception for MARPOL Annexes I, IV, V, and VI waste streams and cargo residues, and all ship food waste is collected as Category 1 animal by-products under EU Regulation 1069/2009 (Port of Gdansk, 2024).
The Port of Gdansk waste reception approach includes, among others, authorized waste recipients for oily waste, solid waste, sewage and cargo residues, advance waste notification through the Polish port control and information system (NSW), and collection of all ship food waste in the mode approved by the District Veterinary Officer. The European Union Directive 2019/883 established harmonized requirements across European Union ports for waste reception adequacy, cost recovery, and reporting.
Vessels calling at Gdansk pay an indirect fee for waste reception, irrespective of whether they deliver waste, which covers Annex V garbage up to set limits (Port of Gdansk, 2023). This approach incentivizes vessel delivery of waste to ports rather than sea disposal, supporting MARPOL Annex V restrictions on at sea garbage discharge. Ships notify waste for delivery through NSW before arrival, and alleged inadequacies of port reception facilities are reported to the Maritime Office on the IMO form.
Transferability
For DMC ports, the Port of Gdansk approach demonstrates integrated waste reception within a regulatory framework harmonized across a regional grouping. Transferable elements include, among others, application of MARPOL Annex requirements, integration of biosecurity requirements for international vessel waste, indirect fee financing to incentivize compliance, and coordination with national waste management regulatory frameworks.
Sources
All information used for this case study was based on publicly available resources.
- Port Gdansk Authority. 2024. Port Plan for the Management of Waste from Ships at the Port of Gdansk. Approved by decision of the Marshal of Pomorskie Province, 12 February 2024. (opens in new tab)
- European Union. 2019. Directive (EU) 2019/883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships. Official Journal of the European Union. (opens in new tab)
- Port of Gdansk. n.d. Waste Collection from Ships. Port Gdansk Authority website (accessed September 2026). (opens in new tab)
- Port of Gdansk (Port Gdansk Authority). 2023. Price List for Ship Waste Reception and Management Services (effective 1 April 2023). (opens in new tab)