ABSTRACT
Polish seaports, like all ports in the world, are being confronted by forces of change and uncertainty that are reducing their abilities to control their own destinies. Since several years, other actors in the transportation industry (the shipping lines in particular) are shaping port development. They have been put ‘at mercy’ of the shipping alliances dominating world trade not only on water, but also on land. Moreover, the process of deregulation in the common transport policy in the EU enables shaping equity mergers and alliances on land. For instance, the rationalisation of rail services raises the potential of differential access to ports. Most port authorities play only a secondary role in the global game. More than ever before, as intermediate points in transport chains, linking shipping with road and rail modes, ports are vulnerable to developments on both land and water. These developments have brought about uncertainty and change that has made port planning extremely difficult.
