Harbour Park visualisation. (source: WIN-PORT Invest)
A new freight port could rise along the Danube in Bratislava, Europe’s second busiest river, with plans to build it near the Slovnaft refinery in the Vlčie hrdlo area.
The €1 billion project, spearheaded by Win-Port Invest, a joint venture of Iuris Group and Blueprint, aims to position Bratislava among Europe’s leading river ports. However, the plans face a significant obstacle: a rare riparian forest stands in the way.
The existing freight port in the heart of the Slovak capital, established in the late 19th century, has seen better days, its importance waning over the years. Yet private investors see untapped potential in Danube shipping and have long been working on a new port project, Harbour Park, writes the Sme daily.
The proposed development includes a new basin equipped with 14 cranes and docking space for over 20 vessels. It would function as a trimodal port, integrated with railway connections and the R7 expressway. The site would also feature public amenities and short-term accommodation for staff.
The new port has been part of the city’s zoning plan for years, and the investor is expected to submit it for environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the near future. Activists, former environment ministry officials, and the Bratislava City Council have previously voiced opposition to the project.
The EIA and a binding opinion from the city are “two key approvals or statements that must be obtained before we can apply for zoning permits,” project manager Ľuboš Čema told Sme.
Construction, if approved, could begin as early as 2027 or later.
(source: WIN-PORT Invest)
The port would be constructed in a sensitive area home to wetlands of international significance, with the project threatening 90 hectares of riparian forest, potentially leading to the destruction of thousands of trees.
Win-Port Invest has sought to allay concerns, assuring that a ‘buffer zone’ would separate the protected area from the port. But the investor also argues that the site is already heavily industrialised, housing a refinery, a sewage plant, and an incinerator.
Former deputy environment minister Michal Kiča of the Demokrati party, however, has called the project an ‘eco-massacre’.
The Transport Ministry has distanced itself from the project, stating that it is not involved. According to the state-owned entity Verejné prístavy (Public Ports), which falls under the ministry, the current port’s capacity is sufficient for freight needs. Public Ports is planning to modernise the Winter Harbour near Eurovea, a shopping mall by the Danube, with the ministry seeking a strategic investment status for the project, as reported by the Denník N daily.
Winter Harbour by the Danube in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
Kiča claims that the renovation of the Winter Harbour, a key part of the current port, is merely a façade, designed to hide its eventual closure. According to Demokrati, developers plan to transform the winter harbour into a new city district, moving the port to Vlčie hrdlo.
