ABSTRACT

The Polish ferry industry has a long history but co-ordinated efforts to rationalise its activities and place them within the standard monopolistic state framework characteristic of other shipping sectors during the communist years, did not materialise until very late on. The review of 1972 revealed that POL European and Ferry Service Division operated two passenger-train ferries on the Swinoujscie-Ystad run. POL were operated as managers for the three company line during 1975 and led a meeting in October of that year, at the end of the first season, to assess its success. Passenger loadings were agreed as very promising but there seemed to be a need to attract more trucks to the service before a year-round operation could be contemplated. The Polish ferry industry was a late addition to the portfolio of state shipping operations and proved problematic from its inauguration.