13 October 2016

Together with the Biological Station of the University of Gdańsk we created the only, unique artificial dune in Poland, made with the use of the sand from the beach which used to be in the place of the T2 investment. The valuable, rare species of plants were moved to the place that best imitates the natural coastal habitat.

The care about the environment is one of the main pillars of corporate social responsibility of DCT. The “Dune Laboratory” project is the accomplishment of not only the environmental and research objectives, but also the educational objectives.

DCT Gdańsk finances trips and biological workshops held on the premises of the Biological Station of the University of Gdańsk, being the location of the dune, for schoolchildren and seniors from the nursing home located in the vicinity of the container terminal.

The opening celebrations of the 1st stage of the “Dune Laboratory” were held on 6 May 2014. On this day there were planted the first species of dune plants, such as sea holly, European marram grass, sea pea, field wormwood, Festuca beckeri and dwarf everlast. The project is implemented under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship Mieczysław Struk, and the partners of the undertaking include: The Container Terminal of DCT Gdańsk SA and the Development Foundation of the University of Gdańsk.

In May and October 2014 the Station’s partners, employees of the involved parties and students of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk took part in replanting dune species from the area intended for the expansion of the container terminal of DCT Gdańsk. In 2015, in the area of the artificial dune, there were held educational classes for students and schoolchildren from the Tri-City and the surrounding towns and villages. There were performed necessary works and there was conducted research as part of the master thesis connected with biology and the living condition of the metaplanted plants (metaplantation consists in moving plant specimens into a new place where they are not endangered).

At the end of 2015 there was launched the project entitled “Dune Laboratory II”. The project includes the expansion and modernisation of the dune surroundings. The works carried out with the use of the heavy equipment lasted about a month. There was removed ca. 20-cm layer of soil, the area was covered with geotextile and 4.5 thousand tonnes of coastal sand were brought. The purpose of all these works was to make the artificial dune and its surrounding area best imitate the natural coastal habitat. At the turn of June and July 2016 there commenced works aimed at the construction of the technical infrastructure, i.e. platforms and the enclosure of the area of the Dune Laboratory.

“Dune Laboratory II” was officially opened on 13 October under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship, Mieczysław Struk.