Hel (Hela) 54°36' N - 18°48' E

Hel is an old fishing settlement located on the end of Hel Peninsula which became a town in times of prosperity, for the first time, then municipal charter was granted as early as 1378. It is now a busy fishing centre and seaside resort with the population of about 4,800. Of the few relics the 15th century Gothic church and some quaint fishing cottages of frame construction have been preserved to this day.
Since the Middle Ages the population of Hel was engaged in the herring fishery. In the 12th - 14th centuries abundance of herring shoals constantly appeared on the fishing grounds near by Hel. At the beginning of the 15th century herring resources were drastically depleted and the town went through hard times. In 1887 the decision to construct the artificial fishing port at Hell was make. Construction began in 1892 and in the next year Hel was the base for 110 fishing boats operating in the Baltic fishing grounds.
Between the two World Wars, Hel was an important centre of the Polish fisheries. In 1921 about 180 fishermen, registered in Hel, were the owners of 42 cutters and 175 motor/sail fishing boats. In the beginning of the 19 twenties, the first Polish maritime ichthyological centre was established under direction of Professor K. Demel. It still exists as a branch of the Sea Fisheries Institute of Gdynia and its activities effects the entire fishing industry, including the catching, and the main threat to the coastal fisheries, enviromental degradation.

Entry to the fishing harbour is situated from the side of the Bay of Puck. There are two basins:
- the inner basin (for berthing and reloading) with depth of 4 to 5 m. Near the basin fish processing plant and ice production plant are located
- the outer basin (for unloading and berthing) with depth of 5 to 8 m, shielded by moles. Not only fishing vessels moor there, but also passenger vessels and yachts.
The harbour is very convenient for the fishing fleet, due to location in relation to the fishing grounds and a short icing period (the average number of days with ice cover annually is 8.5, comparing to Gdynia 30.5 and Puck 77.6). The functional value of the harbour is decreased by strong wave motion strengthened by storm winds coming from the southern sector.

 Presently, a general overhaul of the outer western mole is being carried out. The harbour is connected to the general railway system and in summer a passenger ferry connects Hel with Gdynia and Gdańsk.

Distance Wladyslawowo - Hel: 24 sm

From the harbour office in Wladyslawowo(Grossendorf), no restricted areas exist any longer

Read more about Hel