Polish Baltic Shipping Co. was established on 31 January 1976 as a State shipping company the activity of which was to cover: carriage of passengers by sea; hotel, catering, tourist and entertainment services; carriage of cargo by sea, therein in coastal trade and inland; handling of cargo in small sea ports in Kołobrzeg, Darłowo Ustka, and Łeba; agency services within the above mentioned activities as well as maintenance and construction works. Relevant to the variety of activities production and service works were established within the organisation of the company.
The first director and the co-founder of the company was Jan Szymański. The political decision aiming at economic revival of the Middle Coast adopted at that time resulted in contracts for building hotels in Gdynia, Gdańsk, Koszalin, Kołobrzeg and Ustka. Following the decision of central authorities the shipowner was forced to hand them over to 'Orbis".
In 1976-1977 by virtue of directive No 23 by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Maritime Economy Polish Baltic Shipping Co. takes over car-passenger ferries from Polish Ocean Lines: Gryf, Skandynawia, Wawel and Wilanów, 5 small general cargo coasters: Goplana, Krasnal, Nimfa, Świetlik and Rusałka; as well as 9 from Polish Steamship: Hajnówka, Ruciane, Barlinek, Ina, Ner, Soła, Krutynia, Orla, Odra. The company takes over Ferry Terminal from Port Authorities Gdańsk and Ferry Terminal Świnoujście from Port Authorities Szczecin.
M/s Allotar, then on charter-hire, was purchased and her name was changed to m/s Rogalin as well as two newbuildings: the first Polish ferries: m/s Pomerania and m/s Silesia. That fleet allowed for opening new lines: in 1977 between Świnoujście and Copenhagen and in 1979 Świnoujście-Copenhagen-Felixtowe while in 1980 Gdańsk - Karlskrona was opened.
The beginning of the 1980s meant a deep crisis for Polish Baltic Shipping Co. caused by the deteriorating technical condition of the fleet, port facilities, lack of financial means as well as political and economic crisis in the country as well as economic restrictions placed by Western countries (after imposing martial law). A total ban on travelling abroad for Polish citizens resulted in a total breakdown in passenger and cargo carriages.
Polish Maritime Administration, then the owner of Polish Baltic Shipping Co. took a decision to start preliminary proceedings aiming at the liquidation of the company. It was then that Polish Steamship Company offered a helping hand by purchasing m/s Pomerania and m/s Silesia encumbered with investment mortgage simultaneously transferring them to Polish Baltic Shipping Company to be operated under the company trade mark. The aid so obtained allowed not only to avoid the liquidation of the company but also created the basis for its rapid development. In 1980 m/s Gryf is sold and a year later m/s Skandynawia.
In May 1982 Świnoujście-Copenhagen line was extended to the port of Travemünde and since June 1983 the ferry also called at the port of Ronne on the Danish island of Bornholm. It was in the same year, since June that the ferry serving Gdańsk-Helsinki line calls at the port of Visby in the summer season.
The year 1989 marked the most successful stage in the development of the company when Polish Baltic Shipping Co. was trading on the following lines: Świnoujście-Ystad, Świnoujście-Copenhagen, Gdańsk-Nynäshamn, Gdańsk-Helsinki, Świnoujście-Travemünde, Travemünde-Gdańsk-Riga, Travemünde-Ronne and Helsinki-Visby. In January 1990 the port of destination Nynäshamn was substituted by Öxelösund. It was also that year that marked a record number of passengers carried: 655,617 as well as 145,003 personal cars and 21,703 lorries.
In 1991 - 1994 the quays in the port of Kołobrzeg were modernised and rebuilt. The fifth-million passenger was carried on Gdańsk-Öxelösund line in August 1991. In May 1994 m/s Łańcut is sold. In exactly the same year the company becomes the owner of m/f Nieborów. On 9 June 1994 the construction of Ferry Terminal in Swinoujście is completed. On 1 May 1995 a new ferry line: Świnoujście-Malmö opens. On 24 January 1996 the seventh-million passenger is carried.
In 1990 works on the restructuring and privatisation of the company commenced. The changes started with the liquidation of Building Works and Commercial Port in Darłowo. Changes within the structure of the company commenced as well. In January 1992 the company applied to the Ministry of Ownership Transformations to transform the company into a sole shareholder company of the state treasury. On 31 December 1992 Polish Baltic Shipping Co joint stock was established a body corporate.
In 1997 the company introduces the procedures of ISM Code - International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Vessels and Preventing Pollution from Ships. The company is the first Polish shipowner to receive Quality Management Certificate ISO 9002. Simultaneously the modernisation of the fleet starts. In May 1997 refurbished m/f Pomerania came into operation, rebuilt in Gdańsk Shiprepair Yard "Remontowa". In June of exactly the same year HSC Boomerang made her maiden voyage from Świnoujście to Malmö: a modern car-passenger high-speed catamaran. A year later m/f Silesia was modernised in Gdańsk Ship Repair Yard. These activities result in growing carriages. However, increased income earned as a result did not cover the costs of refurbishing.
In September 2000 the Supervisory Board of the company adopted 'Repair Programme of Polish Baltic Shipping Co.', which started to be executed in 2001. The main aim of said programme were thorough changes in the company the development of strategy for resolving crisis and, most of all, to provide a realistic assessment of the current condition and the prospects for further development. Within the programme a reorganisation within four areas was carried out: estate, financial, employment and the company structure. These activities resulted in total clearing of debts of the company. Further activities aimed primarily at the restructuring of tonnage and recovering the goodwill of the company on ferry market.
In March 2003 m/f Kahleberg was chartered, in July 2003 m/f Scandinavia was purchased. The latter started serving Gdańsk - Nynäshamn. In recognition of these spectacular projects Polish Baltic Shipping Co. was awarded 'Amber Duck' prize by the National Chamber of Maritime Economy.
M/f Rogalin was sold for scrap to India on 20 November within the modernization of the tonnage scheme. Year 2004 brought yet another investment. On 6 October m/f Wawel was purchased, and thanks to enormous organization effort both on the part of the crew and the yard she was rebuilt in no time. On 15 February 2005 m/f Wawel started serving Ystad line substituting m/f Silesia sold in September 2005.
The year 2006 marked the 30th anniversary of Polish Baltic Shipping Co. The main celebrations were held on 21 April 2006 in Kołobrzeg.
In November the owner purchased a further car-passenger ferry: m/v Baltivia, which on 8 January 2007 started serving Gdańsk - Nynäshamn line.
Today Polish Baltic Shipping Co., the biggest Polish ferry owner and ferry operator trading under the trade mark POLFERRIES operates four car-passenger ferries on four lines:
- m/f Scandinavia on Gdańsk-Nynäshamn (Sweden);
- m/v Baltivia on Gdańsk-Nynäshamn (Sweden);
- m/f Pomerania on Świnoujście-Copenhagen (Denmark);
- m/f Pomerania on Świnoujście-Ronne (Bornholm);
- m/f Wawel on the route Świnoujście-Ystad, Sweden
Polish Baltic Shipping Co. owns a chain of 6 Sea Travel Agencies located in the biggest towns in Poland: Warszawa, Wrocław, Poznań, Szczecin, Świnoujście and Gdynia. These travel agencies offer not only Polferries ferry tickets but also tickets for lines operated by other ferry carriers as well as air tickets for all destinations. The company co-operates with many European travel agencies, in particular from Scandinavian countries.
Polferries ferries ensure a safe and comfortable voyage, traditional, good cuisine, the possibility of doing shopping at reasonable prices and all these in a welcoming atmosphere created by a professional and competent staff.
On 17 May 2004 Polish Baltic Shipping Co. was awarded a prestigious honourable mention in the 14th edition the Competition for the Best Products and Services - Polskie Godło Promocyjne "TERAZ POLSKA" ('Polish Promotion Logo 'POLAND NOW') in the category 'passenger and cargo carriages'
Today the ferries of Polish Baltic Shipping Co. serving lines to Scandinavia are modern, safe and recognised both by passengers as well as cargo clients.
Polish Baltic Shipping Co.
78-100 Kołobrzeg, ul. Portowa 41
tel. +48 94 35 52 102, 35 52 103
fax +48 94 35 52 208
e-mail: info@polferries.pl
www.polferries.pl
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