Camilla Jessen
A rusty Russian oil tanker stuck in a Polish port for nearly a decade is finally on the move.
The Russian oil tanker Khatanga, abandoned in the Polish port of Gdynia since 2017, is finally being removed.
Authorities have confirmed the vessel is headed to Denmark, where it will be dismantled and sold off as scrap metal.
Polish Deputy Infrastructure Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka called the departure “long overdue,” saying to Digi24, “We are taking Russian scrap metal out of Poland.”
He noted the tanker had posed a safety risk and racked up unpaid fees during its years docked in Gdynia.
A Lingering Maritime Nuisance
For eight years, the Khatanga sat idle in the port.
Officials say the vessel had become a hazard, especially after it reportedly slipped off the dock twice in March, nearly causing collisions with other ships.
Though technically classified as scrap since early 2024, the tanker could not leave under its own power.
Technical teams have worked for months to stabilize and prepare it for towing. The entire removal process has required strict adherence to European regulations and international cooperation.
The removal of the Khatanga aligns with the end of Poland’s rotating presidency of the EU Council, which has operated under the theme “Security, Europe!” Marchewka criticized previous governments for failing to act sooner, stating that port safety and maritime order had been compromised for too long.
“This ship symbolized stagnation and neglect,” he said. “Now, it represents progress and cooperation.”