Port of Klaipeda development includes dredging

Around 378 million euros – this is the amount expected from the European Union for development of the Port of Klaipeda.

The plan includes:

• develop the smart and environment-friendly port,

• dredging,

• work to allow cost-effective and sustainable navigation.

The possibility to implement these plans will appear if the European Commission approves financing of the projects according to the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Under the plan, the port will assign the majority of funds to ensure bigger depth and for the projects that would help to improve the environmental quality.

Also, development of smart technologies in the seaport will be included.

“In order to be able to receive and load fully the largest vessels that could enter the Baltic Sea, we need to dredge the port up to 17 m depth, and to reinforce the slope of the Curonian Spit before that,” said CEO of Klaipeda Port, Mr. Algis Latakas.

“The adjustment of the infrastructure to the big-tonnage vessels would satisfy the needs of the navigation market to carry cargoes by larger vessels and would allow endeavouring at cheaper carriage costs because of economy of scale.

“Besides, it would increase competitiveness of the Lithuanian exporters – the possibilities would be created to carry the Lithuanian goods by large vessels and to save carriage costs. Less vessels would come because of their larger capacity, thus reducing the emissions from vessels.

“We also attempt to receive financing for the projects that would help to develop business of ship building and repairs necessary for the region’s economic vitality and to adjust facilities present in the port to make wind power plants.

“The principles of sustainable navigation are also receiving big attention; we hope to get money to modernize the fleet of the port’s authority and to purchase a dredger – new vessels would be driven by electricity or alternative, environment-friendly fuel.

“It is planned to create a modern pilotless hang-glider that would allow to con in the remote mode under extreme conditions. Besides, several digitization projects of the port’s management are also included into the plan,” concluded Latakas.