Billion-Euro Investment on the Danube: After Years, a New Cargo Port is Set to be Built

The investor plans to develop it in the Vlčie Hrdlo area, near the Slovnaft refinery.

The project’s ambition is to position Bratislava among the most significant European river ports. However, the investor’s plans may face obstacles due to a rare floodplain forest. The cargo port in the center of the capital, which was established in the late 19th century, has seen its best days, and its importance has gradually declined.

Harbour Park Project

Private investors see enormous potential in shipping on the Danube and have been working for years on a project for a new cargo port, which is set to be built about three kilometers downstream, in Vlčie Hrdlo. The project is called Harbour Park and involves the construction of a new basin with 14 cranes and space for over 20 ships to dock. It will be a so-called trimodal port. They also plan to build a new road connection to the R7 expressway. The project will include warehouses, accommodation facilities, and commercial spaces for the public. The new port is already part of the city’s zoning plan, and the investor intends to submit it for environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the coming days.

Sensitive Location

However, the project has its downsides. It is to be built in a sensitive area with protected wetlands, and thousands of trees would need to be cut down. Some even say this could lead to the largest environmental destruction Bratislava has seen in the last 30 years. The investor argues that the area is already highly industrialized, with a refinery, wastewater treatment plant, and incinerator located nearby. The Ministry of Transport states that it has nothing to do with the mentioned project and is not pushing it in any way. Reportedly, the ministry has its own plans for the modernization of the Bratislava port. We also reached out to the environmental ministry for comment, but no responses were received before the deadline. The investor expects that if the EIA process is successful, construction could begin within three years. Interest in river shipping is reportedly enormous.

Translated from the source: tvnoviny.sk