Dziechciarz, Mateusz
(Scientific Journals Maritime University of Szczecin, Zeszyty Naukowe Akademia Morska w Szczecinie,
)
Seaports are important points in international supply chains. As hubs for several transport sectors, seaports
are an essential element of transport corridors. Over the years, the types of cargo moving through the ports in
Szczecin and Świnoujście have changed significantly. In the last two decades, the largest transhipments were
typically coal, grain and other bulk cargoes; this is reflected in the share of total hinterland shipments transported
by different transport methods. In 2005, more than 2/3 of the cargoes delivered to and from the ports of
Szczecin and Świnoujście were transported by rail.
Rail transport continued to account for the leading share of hinterland transport until 2011, when road transport
started to dominate (46.3% of cargo carried by rail and 47.50% by trucks). This is indicative of a correlation between
the type of cargo and its mode of hinterland transport. With an increase in general cargo transhipments,
the share of shipments travelling to and from the ports by road transport has increased. In turn, the fall in coal
shipments is reflected in rail transport’s share decreasing. In 2005, 3.8% of coal was transported by roads and
80% by rail. In the following years, despite the decrease in the share of global transhipments accounted for by
coal, road transport’s use for coal transport increased. This indicates that the type of cargo is not the only factor
influencing the relative contributions of different modes of transport to hinterland travel.