“When we talk regarding projects, I always want to see a person with a shovel the most. Then you know that the project will be started and finished, then we move from papers to real works. Of course, I’m saying this figuratively, because today nobody digs with a shovel anymore, excavators are coming,” jokes Algis Latakas, director general of the Klaipėda State Seaport Directorate.
Why is such a project necessary?
Some people are angry when they constantly hear the question raised by representatives of various professions, whether Lithuania is a maritime country, because they do not doubt it, while others ask it. The head of the port directorate, A. Latakas, is one of those who have no doubts, and he believes that the most important part of Lithuania as a maritime state is the port.
In 2023, it was 100 years since the port of Klaipėda was handed over to Lithuania. During that century, it developed and improved despite all the obstacles: wars, crises, cargo declines. Now it is the leader of the ports of the Baltic States, and in terms of container handling, it is also one of the largest ports on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It would seem that following reaching that much it would be possible to stop.
“He who believes that it is possible to be great without building, to be good without improving, has a very bleak outlook. In 2020, when almost 50 mln. tons of cargo, the port’s capacity limit was reached. Due to the complex geopolitical situation, the situation has now changed somewhat.
“However, judging by the economic development, we have no doubt in the markets that such a day will come once more and the port of Lithuania will run out of territories. Therefore, investments for its further development are needed now”, says A. Latakas.
According to the head of the port administration, the biggest problem of Klaipėda port today is that it has nowhere to expand: the coast is short, only almost 100 km, of which more than 90 km is dedicated to recreation.
According to the head of the Port Authority, the biggest problem of the Klaipėda port today is that it has nowhere to expand: the coast is short, only almost 100 km, of which more than 90 km is dedicated to recreation, i.e. beaches, nature reserves, etc. This makes it difficult for it to compete with other ports that have large areas for development.
“If the infrastructure of the port is not developed, cargo will not come. Then, when new loads appear, it is too late to develop it. In order to develop the infrastructure, endless documents and adjustments are needed, and the implementation takes an extremely long time – decades.
We must not stop the developed infrastructure, therefore a decision was made to include the development of the territory of the southern part of the port in the general plan of the port in order to have a reserve”, says A. Latakas.
A territory of 100 hectares is a big bait
A new territory of approximately 100 ha will be formed in the southern part of the port.
“Today the Eastern market is closing, in order to attract cargo we have to look to the West. A big player will never come to us if they don’t see an opportunity to settle here. That 100 ha area becomes a big lure for maybe some shipping line, maybe a port of another country that wants to develop its activities elsewhere, maybe a factory. If it was a factory, it would completely change the image of our port, we might not only concentrate on cargo handling, but also do other work that is done in other ports of the world”, – A. Latakas described the perspective of the southern part of the port.
According to preliminary estimates, investments in the infrastructure of the southern part of the port may amount to 500 million. euros. A. Latak doubts that such an amount will be stopped. In his opinion, another reason why it is necessary to develop the infrastructure of the port of Lithuania quickly, without waiting for anything, is that the prices have been rising wildly lately. Any infrastructure development study, not to mention the construction work itself, is quite expensive. According to the head of the Port Authority, it should not be expected that this project will ever cost less.
Looking for funding sources
In 2022, project proposals for the development of the southern part of Klaipėda port were prepared. During that period, a special study was conducted with the help of experts and scientists. The entire environment was assessed, what form the new territory should take. A navigational study has also been completed, and an environmental impact assessment is currently being carried out, which should be completed early next year.
According to the head of the Port Authority, in 2025-2026, a source of financing for this project will have to be found and the possibility of completing the technical project will have to be found, so that construction work can be started at the end of 2026.
“The critical year will probably be 2025. We are talking regarding large sums of money, so, apparently, without a partner – without a concessionaire, or without a Lithuanian or foreign company that would like to set up in Klaipėda, it will be difficult to solve the issue of financing the project”, says A. Latakas.
In the existing southern part of the Klaipėda port, in the Malkai bay, the Port Authority has already invested considerable funds in cleaning the dock pits, in dredging, in arranging the quays. There is intense activity here, and the former international sea port is undergoing preparatory work to develop the infrastructure for the planned offshore wind power center.
It will be possible to walk on the dam
Another very interesting project is the port’s southern gate. It is not only regarding industry but also regarding service to people.
Two dams will be installed – the southern one, the length of which is regarding 1,300 meters, will have a path for people to walk, admire nature and close-up views of the harbor. The length of the other northern dam is regarding one kilometer.
“When the marina is installed, it will be very nice. We already have her vision. It will own an area of regarding 40 hectares, of which regarding 32 hectares will be water. The depth will be 3.5 m, it will accommodate regarding five hundred 5-20 meter long boats and yachts. A 700-meter-long pier will be installed where they will be able to moor,” said the head of the Port Authority.
In addition, there will be an approximately 120-meter-long quay for mooring ferries. According to A. Latak, if there is such a need, in the future ferries will be able to sail to the Curonian Spit and from the southern part of Klaipėda port.
“We anticipate that the new marina should provide an opportunity for children to sail and engage in water sports. Today, the children of Klaipėda are disadvantaged, they are taken to Dreverna to learn to sail,” said the Director General of the Port Authority.
Industry must be friendly
“Whether or not the recreational area and cargo will interfere with each other in the southern part of the port is, I think, a matter of attitude.” If we look at the industrial object as some kind of evil, we will evaluate it accordingly, and if it is a condition for a comfortable and good life, the attitude will be, apparently, quite different.
Today, a lot of people come to the northern jetty to admire the sea and the waves, and when they turn to the port, hardly anyone thinks that it is evil.
If the port infrastructure is not developed, cargo will not arrive. Then, when new loads appear, it is too late to develop it.
Today’s reality is this: any industry must come to terms with the entire social environment, with the inhabitants of the city, and do everything so that its activities do not harm them. All modern security measures allow the port of Klaipėda to work in the city itself, although it is very difficult and very complicated. I think that people who will visit the new marina, seeing the cranes or containers, will be happy regarding Lithuanian industry, without which we would not survive. No matter how much we would like to, we cannot turn everything into parks, industry is also necessary, but it must be friendly”, A. Latakas is convinced.
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2024-07-07 21:03:44