ABSTRACT
The basic requirements of Poland’s merchant fleet and the maritime economy as a whole remained the same throughout the communist period - to meet the country’s requirements in terms of foreign trade by sea; and to contribute to the country’s balance of payments. Any other, covert activity related to politics and the Cold War was excluded from this public statement. The Poles were quite clear about the economic aims of their maritime industry - to reduce expenditure and to gain new income of hard currency through the development of the shipping and ports sector. Calculation of the Balance of Payments for the maritime sector was carried out by the state National Bank of Poland but was reported only sporadically and as part of a general report on transport statistics and its contribution.
