Port of Rønne a star among Danish ports on the Baltic Sea and Polish offshore wind energy

By Marek Grzybowski, Photos: Port of Rønne 

Port Rønne A/S, located on Bornholm, has firmly established itself as a distinguished commercial, passenger and offshore wind port in 2024. It ended the year with record sales revenues and significant progress in the green transformation.

With net sales of around DKK 170 million and a profit of just under DKK 63 million, the port is a significant contributor to the regional economy and is driving Bornholm’s economic growth.

Wind drives the economy

The management of Port Rønne emphasizes that all areas of activity have contributed positively to the economic development, fulfilling the strategic goals of securing stable supply chains, supporting local business development and driving the island’s future economic growth. It adds that the expansion of the port was a key objective last year, and MT Højgaard has completed phase 3 of the infrastructure project. The expansion is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, which will significantly increase the port’s transshipment capacity. The infrastructure expansion will also allow for the handling of two offshore projects at the same time. The first effects of the construction of the terminal for servicing OWF will be visible this year.

According to the plan, in 2025 the foundations and a new Vestas 15 MW offshore wind turbine will be shipped from Rønne to projects in the Baltic Sea. Thanks to investments in access infrastructure and the construction of an installation port, the construction of Polish wind farms will be supported there.

Bornholm as a tourist destination

The port has also become a significant destination for sea tourists. 2024 brought an increase in passenger ferry traffic, as evidenced by 55 sailings secured in cooperation with Destination Bornholm, creating strong knock-on effects for local trade, restaurants and attractions.

“Rønne is a key player in ensuring security of supply for Bornholm while supporting local development and growth. We remain a hub in the Baltic Sea for both regional and international partners with a clear commitment to quality, service and long-term value creation,” emphasizes Jess C. Persson, Chairman of the Board in the financial results release.

– Looking ahead, we will focus more on consolidation than expansion. We want to strengthen our role as a modern and sustainable port, strategically located on the Baltic Sea. This means less large-scale investments and more emphasis on operational efficiency and intelligent land use – CEO Lars Nordahl

The 2025 tourist season officially started on the last day of April this year. The Port of Rønne welcomed the first cruise ship, AIDAmar, which incidentally was the first this season in the Port of Gdynia. This ship with passengers will return to Bornholm to close the season on 22 October this year.

According to the port authority, despite limited capacity due to the ongoing infrastructure expansion, 2025 is shaping up to be a record year, with 61 ships announced, more than last year. Most of them are small and medium-sized passenger ships. In total, around 47,000 passengers will arrive at the port. Gudhjem will dock in Rønne 8 times, and Christiansø will call at Bornholm 2 times. According to Yana Grundke, who is responsible for passenger traffic, large ships will return to Rønne in 2026 when the port expansion is completed.

Environmentally friendly port

The port on Bornholm is perceived by its operators as environmentally friendly. In December 2024, it received the ESG Transparency Award for its sustainability efforts. The award was presented by EUPD Research, an organization that specializes in analyzing and evaluating sustainability initiatives in various industries.

“Climate and sustainability have never been more important than today, as we race against time to mitigate the increasingly visible consequences of climate change. This award confirms that as a pioneering organization, we have not only recognized the importance of sustainability reporting, but also translated it into concrete actions. It also confirms that local efforts are recognized and appreciated internationally,” said Lars Nordahl, CEO of Port Rønne A/S after receiving the award.

For its operations, Port Rønne was assessed in five key areas, such as its work in transparency, governance, compliance with regulations and standards, social responsibility and environmental protection. It also achieved “Predicate Class”, the second highest category in terms of performance in these five areas.

– The results of our work on sustainability are an ongoing process in which we are constantly learning and improving. The journey we are taking as a company is central to our efforts and has become an integral part of our daily activities, and everyone contributes to rethinking routines and finding more responsible solutions to become a more sustainable port, emphasized Lars Nordahl.

The port authority’s sustainability activities are documented annually in a special ESG report highlighting the progress the port has made and further development plans. Thanks to the results of its activities and the business strategy it has developed into a leader in the field of sustainable development. It spreads its vision in the local maritime cluster. The head of ESG and Sustainability at the Port of Rønne, Susan Hansen, in cooperation with Business Center Bornholm, initiated a cooperation network for companies and organizations based on Bornholm.

According to data from the “Annual Report of the Port of Rønne 2024”, in 2024, revenue from sales of services increased by 12.1%, reaching EUR 5,293.6 million. As a result, EBITDA increased by 17.5% to EUR 537.1 million and EBITDA margin by 10.1%. The port authority also received more orders for port services than before and improved its ROCE to 18.2%. All this indicates that 2024 turned out to be an exceptionally successful year for the Bornholm port, resulting in increased profits and significant cash flow. However, full figures are still to be announced, as the full annual report will be presented at the General Assembly of the Port of Rønne on 8 May 2025.