In 2025, the Canadian company Central European Petroleum discovered oil and gas in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Poland, around six kilometres off Świnoujście, during an exploratory drilling operation. The company now plans to extract oil from the ‘Wolin East’ field via an artificial island covering around ten hectares. The plans include up to 30 boreholes and a dredged access channel for tankers. As reported by NDR, preparations are now under way for a cross-border environmental impact assessment. The conveyor system has not yet been approved. However, it could significantly alter the landscape of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Usedom.
Framework for the environmental assessment is established
A consultation process is currently underway for the planned “Wolin East” oil production project, during which the scope of the subsequent environmental impact assessment is being defined. According to the NDR, the municipality of Heringsdorf, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and environmental organisations can also participate in this process. The process is set to run until mid-October 2026.
An environmental impact assessment examines the potential consequences of the project in Polish coastal waters for people, animals, plants, water, soil and other protected resources. As cross-border impacts cannot be ruled out, Denmark and Sweden are also involved alongside Germany. The The Danish Environmental Protection Agency had the project documents published as early as August and the Danish public, Danish authorities and Danish interest groups were asked for their views on the scope of the forthcoming environmental report.
A full environmental impact assessment has not yet been produced. Nor has a licence been granted for the construction and operation of the pumping station. Should the project be approved, construction could begin in 2028 at the earliest, according to the NDR.
What is planned for Swinemünde?
The project plan envisages an artificial island covering around ten hectares, complete with a breakwater, drilling facilities and plants for processing the extracted liquids, to be situated east of the entrance to the port of Świnoujście. To facilitate transport, loaded tank barges will be able to use a dredged access channel 200 metres wide. The project area under investigation covers approximately 35 square kilometres.
A project map shows the artificial island in the western part of the extraction block. From there, a curved dredging channel is to run first north-west and then north. It would thus run almost parallel to the approach to Świnoujście for several kilometres.
It is not yet known how large a potential safety zone around the island might be. Nor have traffic regulations, changes to buoyage, the nautical marking of the facility and possible closures during the construction phase been finalised. The same applies to the number, size and frequency of future oil shipments. The documents relating to cross-border participation initially quote around 4,100 tonnes of crude oil per day, rising later to up to 8,100 tonnes per day. The facility is expected to remain in operation for more than 30 years. The island and the breakwater are to be designed to last for 50 years.
Possible implications for sailing routes
The Swinemünde marina serves as both a seaport and a gateway to the Szczecin Lagoon for cruising yachts. Those approaching from the Baltic Sea already share the approach with commercial and ferry traffic. If the development project goes ahead, a further traffic route for tankers, supply vessels and workboats would be added to the east of the existing fairway.
It is not clear from the documents published so far exactly how many additional vessel movements might actually be expected. It also remains unclear where the extracted oil will be transported to or where it is to be transhipped.
In future, sailors are likely to have to accept detours when continuing their journey eastwards from Świnoujście.
Criticism from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Environmental organisations, citizens’ initiatives and representatives of the municipality of Heringsdorf oppose the project. They fear it will have consequences for the ecological condition of the Bay of Pomerania and for tourism on Usedom. Among other things, the focus is on the Usedom Island Nature Park with its nature reserves. The Vorpommern Bodden Landscape National Park could, although it is situated further west in the Darß, Zingst, Hiddensee and Westrügen area, sustain damage in the event of an accident. On the Polish side lies the Wollin National Park with its protected coastal waters.
The citizens’ initiative ‘Lebensraum Vorpommern’, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation have joined forces to form a campaign alliance. According to the NDR, more than 89,000 signatures opposing oil and gas extraction off the coast of Usedom were handed over to the Federal Ministry for the Environment in September 2026.
The project could also have an impact on tourism. In November 2024, a temporary survey platform was visible from the beach at Ahlbeck.
Book recommendations
Baltic Sea Coastal Guide covers the sailing areas of the Baltic Sea, including Poland. To assist with trip planning, the guide contains descriptions of harbours, including approach procedures, mooring and provisioning facilities, as well as charts and maps. It thus helps to plan a route via Świnoujście and along the Polish coast. However, for definitive information on new facilities, closures or buoyage, up-to-date nautical charts and official notices remain essential.
Mare Balticum features Baltic Sea landscapes under sail. The illustrated book by Nico Krauss, Uwe C. Beyer and Ursula Meer presents the coasts, harbours and people around the inland sea through photographs and texts. It thus complements the article by exploring how sailors experience the Baltic Sea as a landscape and what impact a wind farm in their field of vision would have. The illustrated book does not provide any nautical information on navigating to Świnoujście.
As a sailor on the Baltic Sea, which would affect you more: increased shipping traffic off Swinemünde or an offshore wind farm in your line of sight?
Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise