History

Beginnings of the Port Władysławowo
Before the construction of the Port of Władysławowo in 1938 in the then‐village of Wielka Wieś, the regional fishing activity relied mainly on three ports: in Jastarnia, Hel and Gdynia. The lack of adequate shelter for fishing cutters and of a port with direct access to the open sea limited the development of Polish fishing. In 1920, Polish catches amounted to only 1.8 thousand tons, covering merely 1.5 % of the national fish consumption. In the mid‑1930s, after an increase of catches to 17 thousand tons, their share rose to 30 %. The construction of the Port aimed to modernize maritime fishing and improve fishermen’s living conditions, forming a key element in the development of this branch of the economy.

Choice of location and start of construction
The location of the Port was chosen strategically. Wielka Wieś, situated near the then‑centre of the Baltic coast, proved ideal. The first mention of the village dates from 1284. In the inter‑war period it served as a seaside resort. In 1924 the number of holiday‑makers was about 700. In 1935 a contract was signed with a French‑Polish Consortium for the construction of the Port. On 18 March 1936 the first piles of the breakwaters were driven. Difficulties arose in summer 1936 when storms destroyed some construction gear and damaged the railway track on the pier.

Opening of the Port
The Port in Wielka Wieś was completed in 1938. The boundaries of the Port were set by the Regulation of the Minister of Industry and Trade No. 273 of 27 April 1938. The port was named Port Władysławowo. It comprised two breakwaters: a western one (763 m) and an eastern one (320 m). Inside there were four piers: the largest for coastal‐shipping vessels and yachts, and the remaining three for fishing cutters. The port area was 14.5 ha, making it the second largest port on the Polish coast. The opening ceremony took place on 4 May 1938, attended by Deputy‑Prime Minister Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski and the Minister of Industry and Trade Antoni Roman. The blessing was conducted by Bishop Stanisław Okoniewski, and the harbour master was Captain Henryk Borakowski.

Events after opening
Soon after opening, in April 1939, 211 fishing cutters and 5 foreign‑flagged vessels departed from the Port bringing in nearly 90 000 kg of fish. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Second World War interrupted the further development of the Port. The Germans destroyed part of the breakwater and sank about 20 cutters.

Post‑war period and development of Szkuner
After the war, in 1955 the Fishing & Services Enterprise “Szkuner” was established. The first director of the company was Lech Stefański. “Szkuner” took over 31 cutters and had 937 employees. In 1956 the Fisherman’s House (Dom Rybaka) was opened, which became a social centre for the company’s workers; a year later “Szkuner” took over the port grounds from the Maritime Office. In subsequent years “Szkuner” expanded dynamically, increasing the number of cutters and widening its operations. In 1961 it began fishing in African waters, and in 1965 the Władysławowo‑Port railway stop was opened.

Transformations in “Szkuner” and port modernisation
In 1969 the new unloading quay was completed, and in 1974 at Ustka Shipyard the first B‑410 type stern‑trawler was launched. In the 1980s the Port underwent significant modernisation, and in 1986 it was thoroughly modernised under an investment programme. In 1994 the Port of Władysławowo was opened to tourists.

Important moment in “Szkuner” history – 2012
The year 2012 was pivotal for “Szkuner”. On 4 April 2012 the company changed its name from “Enterprise of Fishing & Fishery Services ‘Szkuner’ Ltd.” to simply “Szkuner” Ltd., in order to simplify its structure and adapt to modern management standards. On 26 June 2012 the Puck County Council approved a five‑year restructuring plan for the company covering 2012‑2017. The plan aimed at further development of “Szkuner” and improving its operational efficiency, constituting a key element in maintaining the company’s competitiveness in the fishing market.

Contemporary times and further investments
In 2002 a yacht marina was launched, and in 2008 a new cold‑storage facility with capacity for 800 tons was built. In 2011 construction of social facilities for fishermen was started, and a Local First Fish Sale Centre was launched. In 2013 a festive academy was held on the occasion of Sea Days and the 75th anniversary of the Port, and in 2015, thanks to EU funding, the company invested in modern fish‑processing equipment, including fish‑processing lines and IT systems supporting production. In 2015 the largest ship in the Port’s history, “Minstrel”, entered the port and required a pilot due to its size.

Further development stages
In 2016 “Szkuner” completed modernisation of its shipyard buildings and introduced a vessel‑monitoring system. The company began cooperation with a temporary work‑agency, enabling employment of foreign workers. In 2017 “Szkuner” obtained the FSSC 22000 food‑safety management certificate, and the shipyard began acquiring foreign clients including the 37 m unit “Tonijn”. In 2018 a new restructuring plan was executed successfully, and in 2019 the company developed a Development Plan for 2019‑2023, assuming further modernisation and port development.

Investments during the pandemic
Despite the challenges related to the COVID‑19 pandemic, “Szkuner” continued its investment programme. First, it launched a modernisation of its fishing cutters, acquiring three pelagic trawl‑gear sets. It also introduced a modern cargo‑hold cooling installation on two cutters, aimed at improving the quality of stored fish. At the same time production‑facility rooms in the fish‑processing plant were renovated and a new defrosting chamber was purchased, which increased processing efficiency. Additionally, a modern CCTV monitoring system was installed, improving safety at the facility. In July 2020 a first land‑lease agreement was signed for office and warehouse space for servicing offshore wind farms. This was a step toward port development in the new area related to green energy and renewable sources. In 2021 cutter modernisation continued, and a major overhaul of the shipyard slipway was started to improve capabilities for vessel repair and maintenance. In the same year “Szkuner” acquired a new tug “Lucek”, replacing “Franusia”, a 116‑year‑old tug that had been a company symbol for many years. The new unit was later renamed “Stefan R”, after Stefan Ritz, long‑time skipper of “Franusia”. Moreover, the Port of Władysławowo began to be more broadly used to service units involved in the preparatory phase of offshore‑wind‑farm construction, marking a new stage in its development.

Increased involvement in the offshore wind‑farm sector
In 2022 a preliminary lease agreement was signed for land and quay space to serve as a service base for the offshore wind‑farm “BC‑Wind”. This represented another step in integrating the Port with the renewable‑energy sector. “Szkuner” also continued modernising its fleet, acquiring five new radars and a fifth pelagic trawl‑gear set to increase fishing efficiency and modernise its equipment. In 2022 the company invested in two new sprat‑heading machines to improve the productivity of its fish‑processing operations.

2023 – Modern technologies and sustainable development
The year 2023 brought further cutter modernisations. The fish‑processing plant of “Szkuner” acquired a sixth sprat‑processing machine. These investments significantly improved the facility’s production capacity. In August 2023 “Szkuner” signed an agreement for the supply of renewable‑source green energy, becoming a leader of eco‑change in the maritime sector. Thanks to this the company ceased using coal‑produced energy, which was a step towards sustainable development and climate protection.

Development Plan 2024‑2029
In 2023 the Development Plan for 2019‑2023 was completed. “Szkuner” achieved all its set goals, including the most important – achieving sustained positive profitability. Thanks to these successes the company was able to launch the next stage of its development – the Development Plan for 2024‑2029. Under the new plan design works commenced for the overhaul and modernisation of the Port’s hydro‑engineering infrastructure, aimed at adapting the Port to the growing demand for services related to offshore wind farms. In late September/early October 2024 an exceptional logistics operation took place – the unloading of transformers intended for the on‑shore power‑receiving station of the offshore wind‑farm Baltic Power. Each of the transformers weighed 356 tons, making the operation one of the most challenging in the history of the Port. In November 2024 an EU‑funded project “Overhaul and Equipping of Cold‑Storage Facility with Installation of Photovoltaic System at the Fishing Port of Władysławowo” was signed, which represented another step towards energy‑efficiency and sustainable development of the Port. In December 2024 “Szkuner” signed two sponsorship agreements with local sports clubs: the football club MKS Solar Władysławowo and the cycling club Klif Chłapowo. The agreements for 2025 formed part of the company’s promotion in the jubilee year of its 70th anniversary. In 2025 “Szkuner” celebrated its 70th anniversary of existence. As part of the celebration a meeting with our contractors was held, as an expression of gratitude for longstanding cooperation, and a separate ceremony dedicated to employees – the people who for years have been the strength and success of our company.