Abstract:

The article is an attempt to show the problems in the functioning of small seaports located on the coast of the Southern Baltic Sea in Poland, using the example of the seaport in Ustka. The selection of the seaport in Ustka is related to the planned transformations of the port resulting from the changing situation in the Baltic Sea and in the area of continuous warfare in Ukraine.

The main objective of the article is: to show the impact of the geopolitical situation as a potential variable influencing the growth of the military function of the leading seaport of the Central Coast of Poland.

The research problem in the article is specified in the form of a question: Does the current geopolitical situation resulting from the armed conflict in Ukraine affect the change in the direction of the seaport development strategy, taking into account the military function?

The research hypothesis of the study is specified in the form of a statement that: the location of the seaport in the vicinity of military units has a significant impact on the development of the military function, as the leading port function guaranteeing an increase in competitive advantage with other ports on the Central Coast of Poland.

The research methods used in the study mainly included secondary analysis of literature sources and statistical data, as well as the case study method of the Ustka port, which allowed for the analysis of the functional features of the port and the assessment of infrastructure and infrastructure availability in the area of the port's operations. The final conclusions and discussion included in the study are focused on the answer related to the influence of the military function on the direction of changes in the port under the influence of changing geopolitical conditions.