| The Port of Gdynia is part of the Tricity urban area that includes Gdansk and Sopot. It lies on the shores of Gdansk Bay off the south coast of the Baltic Sea. Port History The area of Gdynia was the center of the Oksywie culture in prehistoric times. It was inhabited by Goths and later by Slavs. The Port of Gdynia was a fishing village in 1253. Nearby Oxhoft (now the Oksywie area of Gdynia) was the site of the first church in this part of the Baltic coast. In 1380, the village's owner gave it to the Cisterian order, making it the property of the abbey in Oliva. From the late 10th Century to the early 14th Century, it was part of the Pomerania province of Poland. Conquered by Teutonic knights in 1309 who held it until 1466 when it became part of Royal Prussia in the Polish Kingdom. When Poland was partitioned in 1772, the Port of Gdynia was annexed into Prussia. As late as 1789, there were just 21 houses in the village. The Port of Gdynia came under German rule when parts of Prussia fell within the German Empire from 1870 to 1920. Called Gdingen in 1870, about 1200 people lived there, and it was a prosperous tourist location. The Treaty of Versailles made Gdynia part of the new Republic of Poland and declared it a free city under the League of Nations. The Polish government decided to make Gdynia a major seaport in 1920, but construction was slow due to financial constraints. The Polish parliament provided funding and, by 1923, a small port was founded. By late 1925, the Port of Gdynia had a harbor with north and south piers and a railway. Increased exports from Poland, economic growth, and a trade war with Germany further accelerated port construction. Port Commerce By 1929, almost 3 million tons of cargo passed through the Port of Gdynia, and Gdynia was Poland's only seaport for the export of coal. Further expanded during the 1930s, the Port of Gdynia became the busiest seaport on the Baltic, and cargo traffic made up 46% of Poland's foreign trade. The City of Gdynia was built after the seaport. A 1925 committee was formed to build the city and, by 1939, 120 thousand people called it home. German troops occupied Gdynia in 1939, and the harbor became a primary German naval base. Most of their larger ships were berthed there. They also established a Nazi concentration camp near the city. As they withdrew in 1945, German troops destroyed 90% of the seaport and blocked the entrance to the harbor by sinking a battlecruiser. The Port of Gdynia was a major evacuation point for German troops escaping the Red Army, and Russia captured Gdynia in 1945. The Port of Gdynia was rebuilt after World War II. Today, the Port of Gdynia is the passenger port for the Tricity urban area and home to the Polish navy. In 2007, over 17 million metric tons of cargo passed through the port, including 10.3 million tons of general cargo and 614 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo. The port contains almost 3 kilometers of quays with depths of 8 to 13 meters and almost 80 thousand square meters of warehouse and open storage space. The Baltic General Cargo Terminal Gdynia operates duty-free warehouses and a dedicated roll-on/roll-of area with three modern ramps. Cruising and Travel One of Poland's youngest cities, the City of Gdynia is a popular tourist destination. Together with nearby resort town, Sopot, the Tricity is the most prosperous urban area in Poland. The Port of Gdynia is noted for its 1920s and 1930s architecture, fascinating museums, and a popular aquarium. It boasts the Kepa Redlowska nature preserve, a lively nightlife, and many fine restaurants. Gdynia is also home to the annual Polish Feature Film Festival and Summery Jazz Days. The city has five beautiful beac |
