Poland’s strategic LNG terminal in Świnoujście is experiencing an unprecedented surge in activity, as three liquefied natural gas vessels are scheduled to deliver their cargoes within just five days. This marks one of the most intense periods of operations in the facility’s history, with deliveries arriving from the United States every two days.
The mini-series of rapid deliveries began on June 5 with the arrival of the Clean Mistral, followed two days later by the Święta Barbara. Now the Venture Iberia is waiting to dock, completing a trio of American LNG shipments. According to data from the terminal operator Gaz-System, such a tight schedule has not been seen in recent years – the last time three cargoes arrived within five days was earlier this year, but then one of them came from Qatar.
All three current shipments originate from the United States. The Venture Iberia will be the 446th vessel to call at the terminal since its opening and the 36th this year. The intense schedule may be the result of careful planning by operators combined with favorable Atlantic crossing conditions, allowing ships to deliver their cargoes faster than initially anticipated.
Why the sudden rush at the gas port?
The accelerated delivery tempo is likely driven by commercial considerations. For ship operators, the priority is to quickly offload LNG so that vessels can return to service and generate revenue from further transport. The regasification process itself takes time and requires separation between consecutive deliveries, but the terminal appears to be handling the pressure efficiently. The Gaz-System team has been working around the clock to manage the logistics.
After the Venture Iberia unloads, the terminal is expected to gain some breathing room – the next scheduled delivery is not until June 15. This short break will allow for necessary maintenance and adjustments. The current flurry of activity underscores the importance of the terminal for Poland’s energy security, especially given the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Geopolitical context and qatar deliveries
The absence of Qatari LNG deliveries is directly linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Due to the Israeli and American military actions against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed, preventing LNG tankers from Qatar from reaching European ports. This has forced Poland to rely even more heavily on American supplies. The LNG terminal, which was opened over a decade ago, has a maximum annual capacity of over 80 cargoes – equivalent to about 8.3 billion cubic meters of gas after regasification.
The current congestion is a clear signal that Poland’s diversification strategy is being put to the test. The country has successfully secured alternative supply routes, but the dependence on a single source (USA) in a volatile geopolitical environment carries its own risks. The terminal’s operators and the government are closely monitoring the situation to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies for households and industry.
All deliveries are realized from the United States. The Venture Iberia will be the 446th vessel in the history of the gas port and the 36th this year. Due to the Israeli and American attack on Iran and the consequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, deliveries of gas from Qatar are still not reaching our country. The gas port is a key element of the national gas infrastructure.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Materiały prasowe / Gaz-System
