Klaipeda State Seaport Authority

Klaipėda Port is a multi-purpose deep-water port operating 24/7. Klaipėda is a port which remains ice-free even in harsh winters. 15 large stevedoring, shipbuilding, and ship repair companies work and provide all maritime business and cargo-related services here. Klaipėda Port: the catalyst of the city’s strength and stability. The port activity and its services generate economic and social benefit for both the city and the country. More than 800 different types of companies, which employ over 23,000 people, are engaged in port-related activities. In addition, approximately 185,000 indirect jobs are created by Klaipėda Port operations. The port activity generates about 4.5 per cent of Lithuania’s gross domestic product and with its indirectly related business share it creates as much as 18 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Port of Klaipėda is situated at the crossroad of two international transport corridors, it serves as a bridge between the markets of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Asian region on the one hand, and the European Union and other markets on the other hand. The Port of Klaipėda lies closest to the ports in the North-West of Europe and southern parts of Scandinavia. In Klaipėda Port, over 75 per cent of the total volume of cargo is transported by rail; therefore, it is important to develop the port railway network because rail transportation, compared to the road, is more environmentally friendly, faster, and cheaper. The construction of port railways provides not only a fast delivery of cargo, but also solves traffic-related congestion, pollution, and noise problems. Three port exit motorways – the Southern, Northern and Central Port Exit Roads – represent lifelines for cargo transportation.

Klaipeda Port Authority is presently participating in 10 EU financed INTERREG IVC projects, the aims of which diversify from best practice exchange in modes of hinterland transportation, to management of contaminated sediments, best practices of LNG terminal development. Klaipeda Port Authority is participating in Port Integration project as a partner with no separate budget line for any dedicated study to be prepared as a result of the project. Nevertheless exchange of experiences dedicated to the identification and analysis of good practice of topics of both working groups “Hinterland Transport, Gateways, Dry Ports” and “Maritime Transport and Port Interfaces” is of interest to the port.

During 2012-2013, the largest port dredging operations are being carried out: deepening and widening of the port fairways. Over 4,5 million m3 of soil will be excavated during these dredging operations. Having completed these works northern and central part of the port will be of the depth of 14.5 m. These dredging works will have significant impact on cargo turnover handled and the size of vessels arriving in the port. It will also improve the navigation and environmental safety in Klaipėda Port. Also new Klaipėda Passenger and Cargo Terminal is being constructed in central part of the port. The terminal will become one more axis of intermodal transportation in the port and will be directly linked with the international transport corridor IXB by the motorway Klaipėda–Vilnius. The construction of the terminal, which will serve passenger ships, cruise vessels, and Ro-Ro ferries, will be financed by the EU cohesion funds and is planned to be completed in 2013.
Seeking to ensure energy independence of the country, according to the decision of the Government of Lithuania (adopted in 2010), a liquefied natural gas terminal shall be constructed in Klaipėda port by the end of 2014. The LNG terminal will allow the country to diversify the supply of liquefied natural gas.

In 2012–2013, Strategic Impact Assessment of Būtingė port will be carried out, while in 2014 – 2015 the Būtingė Port Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is scheduled. Provided only that the Būtingė Port Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) proves that such facility is environmentally feasible, in 2015–2016 the Detailed Design and the Technical Project will be carried out. However, the construction time will depend on the situation in the maritime business market. Presumably, the first terminal in Būtingė Port could start operating in approximately 2020.