Lithuania. Klaipeda State Seaport Authority

The loan has been provided for investment projects in Klaipeda port. The scope of the investment includes the reconstruction of quays and construction of piers and a terminal for passenger and cargo ferries, capital dredging and widening of the port’s navigation channel.

The investments in the reconstruction of quays and construction of piers will help increase the volume of cargo and improve storage and stevedoring operations. A new terminal for passenger and cargo ferries will be able to serve Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax, Con-Ro, passenger, cruise ships, car carriers, and handle general cargo. The new terminal will allow opening new ferry lines to Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark within two years. The project of capital dredging and widening of the channel to a depth of 14.5 metres and width of 150 metres will improve safety for vessels arriving to and departing from Klaipeda port waters. It is expected that as a result of the investment the port’s cargo capacity will increase by 12–13 million tonnes per year, or about 25%.

The increase of Klaipeda’s cargo handling capacity will lift a bottleneck to trade expansion and help the port to gain market share in the region. The investment responds to a need for Lithuania to improve its trade logistics competitiveness. It also boosts competitively priced shipments to and from Lithuania, thereby promoting regional competition in transportation services.

The major identified environmental risk due to the project is an increased inflow of sea water into the fresh water of the Curonian Lagoon. An increased salt content may endanger the long-term survival of its sensible and protected (Natura 2000) aquatic eco system. The risk for negative environmental impact, modelled by the port, has, however, been assessed to be low. NIB shares this conclusion.