25th Anniversary of the Maritime Economy Forum on the 100th Anniversary of Gdynia

"European Union Maritime Policy"

The current situation in the maritime economy, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the industry, including in the context of the geopolitical situation, will be the main themes of the jubilee 25th edition of the Gdynia Maritime Economy Forum. The event will take place on 9 October 2026.

“Gdynia was born from the sea and from the courage to look further than the horizon. In the year of the 100th anniversary of our city, we can see particularly clearly that it was precisely the maritime economy that from the very beginning was the driving force behind Gdynia’s development and its gateway to the world. I am all the more pleased that the jubilee 25th edition of the Maritime Economy Forum will take place right here – in a city that for a century has remained a symbol of modern thinking about maritime Poland. This is a unique moment to talk not only about the challenges of the present day, but also about the future of an industry that for decades has strengthened Poland’s position and presence at sea,” emphasizes Aleksandra Kosiorek, Mayor of the City of Gdynia.

Therefore, the panelists will try to present the current situation of the entire industry, as well as indicate directions for its development and the challenges it faces. The position of the FGM developed over the years, its experience, as well as the extensive contacts of its leaders and organizers on the domestic and international markets, provide the foundation for the development of the Forum and building its brand. Over the years, FGM has been transformed into the largest meeting in Poland of representatives of maritime economy companies expressing the opinions and needs of industry organizations. The source of its success is the meeting formula, which is constantly adapted to the needs of participants, as well as the implementation of the event’s basic principle, which is “business for business”.

“A quarter of a century of the Forum is the best proof that the Polish maritime economy has its own permanent meeting place, one where shipowners, shipyards, ports, logistics, energy and administration talk face-to-face about what really affects the condition of the industry. This year’s edition takes place at a unique moment. The geopolitical situation, the European Union’s maritime policy, a new wave of investment in ports and the renaissance of the Polish shipbuilding industry mean that the proposed topics form a very specific agenda for discussion for the entire industry,”emphasizes Sławomir Kalicki, Forum Leader.

The Forum will traditionally be based on 6 main thematic areas:

• Shipbuilding industry
• Seaports
• Maritime logistics
• Renewable energy
• Business in sailing
• Cybersecurity and autonomous shipping.

The discussion on the shipbuilding industry (the panel leader is Irek Karaśkiewicz, Director of the Office of the FORUM OKRĘTOWE Employers’ Association) will focus on the strategic directions for the development of the Polish shipbuilding industry in an era of global recovery in the shipbuilding sector. The main objective of the discussion will be to find a path and develop a model for the transition of many Polish companies from the role of subcontractors to suppliers of technically advanced shipbuilding products and services with high added value. The panel participants will jointly seek an answer to the question: how can the current market conditions be effectively used to build a strong, global brand of the Polish shipbuilding industry?

The panel dedicated to Polish seaports (led by Michał Śmigielski, Chairman of the Gdynia Port Users’ Council) also promises to be interesting. Its participants will consider the question: are current investments in Polish seaports capable of responding to the needs of the dynamically changing situation on international markets? Particularly in such sectors as: the energy market, the grain and feed market, the ro-ro market and the container transport market.

Maritime logistics is inseparably connected with cargo handling in ports and the management of supply chains (the panel leader is Marek Tarczyński, Chairman of the Council of the Polish Chamber of Forwarding and Logistics). The starting point for the discussion will be a look at the sector as a creator of order in times of turbulence in the development of the global economy and disruptions to global supply chains. Therefore, the assessment of the consequences of the crisis in the Persian Gulf for the trade, transport and logistics sector, operational management methods in times of crisis, building resilience strategies for logistics companies and supply chains against disruptions, as well as an assessment of their effectiveness, cannot be missing from the discussion.

Renewable energy remains a topical issue (the panel leader is Tomasz Pelc, owner of NEXUS Consultants, business advisor and expert in the field of energy and strategic development). This time, the discussion will concern nuclear energy and the opportunities and threats associated with plans for its development in Poland. The aim of the panel will be to present practical experience and recommendations concerning the development of a modern nuclear energy program in Poland, covering not only the implementation of investments, but also the development of competencies, domestic industry, an effective regulatory system and a long-term state strategy. The discussion will make it possible to answer the question of how to translate ambitious energy policy objectives into effectively implemented projects of strategic importance for the energy security and competitiveness of the Polish economy.

For several years now, FGM has also featured a panel related to the sailing industry (led by Tomasz Chamera, Vice President of World Sailing). This is particularly significant given that Poland is one of the world’s largest producers of yachts and boats, whose customers also include some of the best-known people in the worlds of sport and entertainment. This time, the discussion will be devoted to the strategic links between the maritime economy, sailing and the development of sport.

In the case of cybersecurity and autonomous shipping (the panel leader is Rafał Cichocki, Head of the Maritime Cybersecurity Centre at Gdynia Maritime University), participants in the discussion will consider how modern cyberattacks can interfere with navigational data and influence decisions made on the bridge. The panel will provide a concrete picture of events – from hackers gaining access through IT systems, through the manipulation of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and AIS (Automatic Identification System) data, to the moment when digital interference translates into the actual course of a vessel. Against this background, the requirements of the amended National Cybersecurity System Act and IACS UR E26/E27 (Unified Requirements – classification requirements in the field of cybersecurity), which create a coherent framework for building resilience in the IT/OT environment, will be presented.

Forum Gospodarki Morskiej Gdynia 2026 – 9 October – Pomeranian Science and Technology Park in Gdynia.

https://forum.gdynia.pl/rejestracja/

Participation in the event is free of charge, subject to prior registration on the website. The number of places is limited, so it is worth confirming your attendance at the Forum sufficiently in advance.

Registration is available until 8 October or until all places are filled. The organizers are the City of Gdynia and the Gdynia Development Agency.