Soon starts a new cruise ship line: St.Petersburg-Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn-St.Petersburg.

In July,Russian company S-Continental starts it's service between ports on Baltic Sea,connecting St.Petersburg,Helsinki,Stockholm and Tallinn :banana: :banana:

For this line they are currently rebuilding ferry 'Russ',this will have room for 236 passengers and will be named 'SC Atlantic'

Photo of the ship
http://www.scontinental.com/images/ship.jpg

About the journey: ferry departs St.Petersburg on friday,reaches Helsinki on Saturday,Stockholm on Sunday,Tallinn on Monday and is back in St.Petersburg on Tuesday. It's estimated cheapest ticket prices: around 6173 EEK.

Source (in Estonian):http://uudised.err.ee/?06205649, original news (in Russian):http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?fromsearch=63ab9a5c-2e9d-45f1-8eda-003cd5b63674&docsid=1378577
Company website: http://www.scontinental.com/

AND there's another company currently investigating Tallinn-St.Petersburg line option - the Inflot Worldwide.

:cheers:

That boat looks like river ferry. Doesn't look too safe for Baltic sea, especially in autumn stormy season.

This ferry has regular routes St.Petersburg-Helsinki ATM
http://visualrian.ru/storage/PreviewWM/6334/55/633455.jpg?1271858317
http://visualrian.ru/storage/PreviewWM/6334/52/633452.jpg?1271858278
http://visualrian.ru/storage/PreviewWM/6334/51/633451.jpg?1271858295

Visas, visas :ohno:

^
Ahhaa,yes ;) Last week there was rumor,that European Union and Russia are talking about agreement on visa free travel. This would really open up travel to & from St.Petersburg.

That boat looks like river ferry. Doesn't look too safe for Baltic sea, especially in autumn stormy season.

So far they plan to use this line on summer season. :) And this is photo of ship before rebuild,so I'm sure that they'll make it storm proof and well usable on open sea. Even now there are small,200-300 passenger cruise ships running on Baltic Sea without any problems. Btw,ship will be bigger than those small Lindaline ferries running between Tallinn and Helsinki :D

So far they plan to use this line on summer season. :) And this is photo of ship before rebuild,so I'm sure that they'll make it storm proof and well usable on open sea. Even now there are small,200-300 passenger cruise ships running on Baltic Sea without any problems. Btw,ship will be bigger than those small Lindaline ferries running between Tallinn and Helsinki :D

I doubt that anyone can "rebuild" river ferry to be usable in open seas. AFAIK it is even illegal in Russia, since few years ago there was some accident in Black/Azov sea with similar river ferry.
Size is not always an advantage, for a ship like this it more likely a disadvantage.

Hmm,sry about that... It seems that there are more than one 'Russ' named ship in Russia. :D Forget previous picture,I dug out picture of 'Russ' (or SC Atlantic,as it's now known) in new livery:

http://www.scontinental.com/images/ship.jpg

For me it looks more of an iceboat intended rather for Arctic Ocean.. And what kind of a vacation could that look like onboard? Well, if it will be serving 236 passengers then it might be quite ok, still no comfort IMO, but is this the aim of that company, not to raise as much as it's possible the amenity for the travellers..?

It's certainly not going to be AirBaltic when it comes to comfort, however, let's do hope it's something new and interesting on Baltic waters.

Visas, visas :ohno:

AFAIK visas are lifted for Finnish citizens (maybe EU citizens as well), so that you can stay in the country up to 72 hours visa-free. Previously it was possible for cruise ship passengers only, but now also possible for regular ferry passengers.

Port of Tallinn statistics (first five months of 2010,comparing to last year same period)

Oil products: 10,4 million tons (+3,7%)
Bulk cargo: 236.300 tons (+43%)
RO-RO cargo: 1,385 million tons (+32%)
Container cargo: 61.323 TEU (+6%),cargo hauled in containers - 539.800 tons.
Total cargo: 14,9 million tons (+15,7%)

Passengers: 2,36 million (+7,6%)
Ship visits within 5 months: 2819

And in this May,Port of Tallinn cargo volume was 3,2 million tons,which was 31% more than last year.

Estonian BLRT is an owner of Lithuanian Vakaru Laivu Gamykla. Now it also acquires the second Lithuanian shipyard - Baltijos Laivu Statykla.

http://www.e24.ee/?id=273904 (estonian)

Sweet! :cheers: Looks like BLRT is well on their way of becoming major ship builder in region (shipyards in Estonia,Finland & Lithuania and in addition,subsidiaries in Norway,Russia & Latvia) Still,it takes long time before they can compete with Bergen Group,STX (it's Nordic shipyards) or Odense.

In January-May this year the ports of the Baltic States handled 53,135 mln. tons of marine cargo – by 6,0 % more, than in corresponding period last year. The share of Latvian ports made 48,1 % of the total cargo turnover in the Baltic States, Estonian ports – 28,3 % and the port of Lithuania – 23,6 %, correspondingly.

Cargo turnover results at the ports of Eastern Baltic, in thousand tons

Tallinn 15 026,1 +16,1%
Klaipėda 12544,9 +15,9%
Riga 12179,3 -0,5%
Ventspils 11712,0 -6,0%
Būtingė 3113,5 -8,6%
Liepaja 1672,3 -0,3%


Passengers’ transportation. The port of Tallinn served 2 758,7 thousand passengers this year, change +6,8 % or +174,9 thousand passengers.
228,0 thousand passengers arrived to Riga port, change +22,9 % or +42,5 thousand passengers.
Number of passengers at Ventspils port amounted to 6,5 thousand, change +37,1 % or +1,8 thousand passengers.


Container handling at the ports of Eastern Baltic, in TEU, 2010 01-05

Klaipėda 114801 +9,3%
Riga 94157 +27,6%
Tallinn 61576 +6,5%
Liepaja 241 -19,7%

^^
Wow,impressive increase in passenger traffic in Riga. However,Riga has some serious future passenger traffic potential still not used,considering how big Riga is. I hope to see more increases in both cargo & passenger traffic. :cheers:



Few really short videos of Estonian ports expansion plans:

Muuga harbour in Tallinn metro area,you can see container terminal construction has made some good progress (video should be from early spring):
12071511

Paldiski South harbour in Northwestern Estonia:
12071559

Wow, really impressive statistics, seems that ports don't feel the consequnces of the recession, good for all the three states! :banana:

And awesome projects from Estonia! You, guys, have serious perspective to develop, I see. Good luck with that!

I guess it is important to mention that unlike in Latvia and Estonia, absolute majority of cargo handled in Klaipeda is of Lithuanian origin (can't find the pie-chart now, but it was close to 62% afair)

structure of handled cargo in Klaipeda in 2009
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/admin/images/get.php?id=9969

^ Then, since when Lithuania extracts oil and exports it? :lol: And isn't it that Klaipeda is the main port of transporting Belarussian goods? Also, you would claim all that agricultural stuff is of LT origin? :sly:

^ Then, since when Lithuania extracts oil and exports it?: :lol:

We have this big arse thing north west of Siauliai. Also happens to be the largest company in Baltics. :|

^ And isn't it that Klaipeda is the main port of transporting Belarussian goods?:

No it isn't.

^ Also, you would claim all that agricultural stuff is of LT origin? :sly:

I'm not claiming anything. And no, it isn't. But even if it was - 7%? i just dont see anything special here. This year, f.e., biggest Lith' agricultural companies plan to have a grain harvest of close to 3mln t.

It seems that oil and fertilizers come from Russia

Belarus is a big producer of fertilizers as well

It is one thing to export crude oil and a completely different one to export a refinded oil product such as gasoline or diesel fuel, engine oils, or other products.

Interesting, I thought Klaipeda was the "the" port of the Baltics, at least, thats the impression I got after seeing a lot of advertising in publications such as the Economist.

I guess it is important to mention that unlike in Latvia and Estonia, absolute majority of cargo handled in Klaipeda is of Lithuanian origin (can't find the pie-chart now, but it was close to 85% afair)

LOL,it's more like 62% local goods & 38% transit cargo ;)

Source - Klaipeda port webpage,2009 port statistics:
http://i45.tinypic.com/neu9zc.jpg

Link (.pdf file) : http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/admin/files/get.php?id=845

Similar information about Port Of Tallinn,2009 statistics (comparing to 2008):

Cargo origin:
http://i50.tinypic.com/vhu8v8.jpg

Cargo destination:
http://i49.tinypic.com/23lh25g.jpg

Breakdown of cargo transit:
http://i49.tinypic.com/300wbvk.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/dfd0d4.jpg

Interesting stats. Russian cargo makes up 71% of Tallinn's cargo while in Klaipeda it's merely a 12%. This basically means that Russia could "switch off" Tallinn's port any minute if it just wanted to do so.

^^
But Russia can also influence Batka's cargo transport in Lithuania if they really want it,so it's more than 12% ;) Anyway,port of Tallinn has started to focus on new trade partners in Asia (it's lot faster & cheaper to haul cargo,using railways,from Asia through Russia to Baltic ports,where it will be shipped to rest of the Europe rather than have ships sailing around the globe to reach Europe by sea),because they predict that cargo flows from Russia will decrease in future. Not because of politics,but because Russia is developing several large ports and will soon be able to transport it's own goods.

^^
But Russia can also influence Batka's cargo transport in Lithuania if they really want it,so it's more than 12% ;)

Can it? Judging from the recent issues with gas supplies to Belarus, influencing Batka may not be that easy even for Russia. Yes, Batka is a c*nt but I respect him for holding his stance when it comes to confrontation and national interests of Belarus. In fact, according to some news reports Belarus is interestes in alternative gas supply channels one of which could be the planned LNG terminal in Lithuania. Not to mention the high interest in Klaipeda to transport more goods and even build a high-speed railway line between Vilnius and Minsk. And if anything, Belarus and Lithuania so far has never engaged into any political rows where politics was used to sort out the economic issues. This is despite the somewhat bizarre political climate between LT and BY which only recently became a little warmer. Belarus is certainly not your regular puppet of Kremlin and Batka, no matter how much of a w***er he is, is partly responsible for that.

Anyway,port of Tallinn has started to focus on new trade partners in Asia (it's lot faster & cheaper to haul cargo,using railways,from Asia through Russia to Baltic ports,where it will be shipped to rest of the Europe rather than have ships sailing around the globe to reach Europe by sea),because they predict that cargo flows from Russia will decrease in future. Not because of politics,but because Russia is developing several large ports and will soon be able to transport it's own goods.

This is a very good attitude. Considering China's skyrocketing economy and political economical, cultural and all other influence, this is a very wise approach. I hope Lithuania will be able to understand that as well.

LOL,it's more like 62% local goods & 38% transit cargo ;)

Yep, thanks, you're right here. ;)

Still, apart from messing up the percentage, i was right.

It seems that oil and fertilizers come from Russia

Stop being so ignorant and just do some math for God's sake. Oil and fertilizers make up 58% of Klaipeda's cargo, while russian share of cargo in Klaipeda is barely 11,9%. :|

Refined oil products come from Mazeikiai oil refinery while fertilizers come from "Achema" factory in Jonava and "Lifosa" factory in Kedainiai.

Only some oil products and fertilizers come from Belarus and Russia.

This is a very good attitude. Considering China's skyrocketing economy and political economical, cultural and all other influence, this is a very wise approach. I hope Lithuania will be able to understand that as well.

I guess you missed an article or two or most-likely twenty. Klaipeda is doing the same - talking to China that is, from the discussions between port authority and private companies to talks between high ranking schmucks in the governments. Afaik, one chinese company already participates in the tender for the developer of new infrastructual additions in Klaipeda's port.

That's where the future of Baltic ports lies in - Asia :yes: Chinese (both government officials & companies) have been very exited about having access to our ports. I wonder if Latvia has similar plans like Estonia & Lithuania have for developing Asian-Baltic cargo traffic.

^ As if we could stand aside and knowing nothing about China perspective?! AFAIK, Latvia was trying to negotiate with Chinese partners of using our ports for their goods quite a long time ago, though seems not much was reached.. But anyway, Riga port atm is looking for any possibilities to handle more cargo, so I think China is in their mind on the first place!

They can negotiate even with martians but there is always that thing called Russia in between. They are deliberately blocking possible Kazakhstan exports through Latvian ports for quite some time already.

They can negotiate even with martians but there is always that thing called Russia in between. They are deliberately blocking possible Kazakhstan exports through Latvian ports for quite some time already.

Yes, but Kazakhstan is not China. I think Russia would have to think twice before starting to mess with a country that is 10x bigger and many times more influential than itself. Hence I don't think it would try to "block" Chinese exports via Baltic ports. And it would get its share from the transit fees anyway, not to mention the infrastructure which would also be built by the Chinese.

It's interesting to know then what Vladimir Jakunin (Yakunin),president of Russian Railways,said few days ago in economic conference held here,in Estonia:
..."The common interests of regional neighbours are creating positive environment for increasing trust between Russia and Baltic countries and they help to improve relations between our countries"...
He also mentioned that economical interests outweigh political ones. And despite prefering Russian ports for shipping Asian cargo,it's certain that Russia can't handle entire cargo flow alone. Jakunin said that Russian Railways plans to decrease time it takes for conteiner cargo to reach EU on Trans-Siberian (three time faster,with only 7 days) This would allow to increase conteiner cargo traffic andwould be beneficial to Baltic ports.

Source: http://uudised.err.ee/index.php?06207905

I bet ABC_LV would ask why they are so generous... simple - they get nice transit fees for cargo traffic on their railways ;)

They are making fees for transit cargo ridiculously high claiming that their railways are already overstretched so it is economically not feasible to transit anything from far east to Baltic ports. Remember they are building their own ports in the Baltic sea and will do everything possible to direct possible far eastern/Central Asian exports through their own ports.

Freeport of Ventpils ranks 5 in Financial Times "Global Free zones of the Future 2010/11" top.

http://www.fdimagazine.com/cp/30/FreeZones_pages.pdf

He also mentioned that economical interests outweigh political ones.

Economical interests comes hand to hand with political interests when dealing with Russia. Be careful of what you are cheering for.

What type of goods would China - Baltic sea container route target? I assume it is more expensive than sea routes anyway so the only benefit would be saved time.

Economical interests comes hand to hand with political interests when dealing with Russia. Be careful of what you are cheering for.

Business with Russia must be kept cautious & well calculated :yes: (Mother Russia has strange & mysterious ways of making business :D),but I think Baltics can really profit from it - we generally have a lot better knowledge of "Russian style business",than some ordinary Western businessmen.

And for example,about political leverage - when Russians went nuts over Estonia relocating WW2 soldier statue in 2007 and Russian politicians demanded ALL cargo traffic to/from Estonia stopped,then in reality it only resulted modest drop of our cargo traffic. The fact is that Russia can't stop entire cargo traffic without damaging it's own companies and resulting financial losses to itself.

What type of goods would China - Baltic sea container route target? I assume it is more expensive than sea routes anyway so the only benefit would be saved time.

Saved time = millions of $ or € saved.

The fact is that Russia can't stop entire cargo traffic without damaging it's own companies and resulting financial losses to itself.

Currently? Yes. In 20 years? Who knows. At least Latvian and Lithuanian ports can orientate on Belarus potassium and Ukrainian coal. :lol:


Saved time = millions of $ or € saved.

Not always, rail transportation is much more expensive than freight sea routes.

Currently? Yes. In 20 years? Who knows.


Ehh, you mean when China, Russia's biggest and most powerful neighbor, will be by far the largest and most influential global economy and political power in Asia? I don't think Russia would attempt to commit a suicide in such a way.

There is certain strategy in Riga port to attract China and it is performed for several years. But would not disclose too much :D

Lately Riga Port is not that much successful - while LT and EE ports may better keep/increase their turnover thanks to the bigger amounts of exported local production, LV feels the decrease of Russian transit very well and locally produced export can not compensate it yet.

Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 orders world's largest LNG fueled ferry from Lithuania-Norwey joint venture (http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=28505)
Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 has signed a contract with Fisker Strand BLRT, a joint venture between Fiskerstrand Verft AS in Alesund, Norway, and Vakaru Laivu Gamykla (Western Shipyard) in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Marine Log reports.

The ship covers the design and construction of what will be the world's largest gas-fueled ferry. Hull construction and initial outfitting will be carried out at the Klaipeda yard, while completion will be at Fiskerstrand Verft, with delivery scheduled for November 30, 2011, informs LETA/ELTA.

The ferry is being built to Multi Maritime AS's MM120FD LNG design and is projected to have a capacity of 242 cars on two decks and 600 passengers. The dimensions, according to the design plan, will be: length, OA 129.90 meters; breadth, molded 18.80 meters; depth, molded main deck – 6.45 meters; depth, molded shelter deck – 9.50 meters.

With a deadweight in excess of 1,300 t the 7,000+grt ferry will be equipped with four azimuth thrusters powered by a gas-electric plant consisting of three large Rolls-Royce LNG gas engines and generators. It will have a service speed of approx. 20 knots.

The ferry will mainly be operating between Mortavika and Arsvågen on E39 between Bergen and Stavanger, but it will also be used on the other ferry link between Bergen and Stavanger, Halhjem – Sandvikvåg. It will be the sixth ferry operating on the two ferry links, which are among Norway's busiest.

Western Shipyard main activity field is ship repair and modification, ship building, stevedoring and storage services, metal construction production, metal processing, hot galvanization, transport services and procurement.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/files/multi/2010-06/100628_fjord1.jpg

Riga Free Port has obtained EU financing for relocation of port activities from areas near the city centre to Krievu Sala. Total costs of project - 183.5 mio EUR, area of the new port district - 64 ha, designed capacity - 22 mio tons per year. After realisation of this project Riga harbor will be a lot more competitive - ships will have to go 15 - 20 km less far inside the city.
Works to be completed in 2014, to be started in this autumn.

In fact works were started a lot earlier - they filled the area with soil.

Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 orders world's largest LNG fueled ferry from Lithuania-Norwey joint venture (http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=28505)

http://g.delfi.lt/images/pix/file33957401_0f64b4c299e3946e56.jpg

Riga port has concluded rental agreement with Russian "Uralhim" - Russians until the end of 2011 will build a terminal for artificial fertilisers in Kundzinsala. This should add 2 million tons per year in Riga in 2012.

Well, fine news from Riga Port, at least they still have good chances to catch up with the neighbours.
Btw, I guess, after 'Uralhim' will start producing artificial fertilizers it would become almost impossible to live on Kundziņsala. Don't they want to relocate the housing areas from there and give whole island for the use of the port?

That is exactly the plan of Riga Port - but people in Kundzinsala for many years are fighting against this.

Tallink Group carried 820 485 (+3% compared to last year) passengers and 105 982 (+11%) vehicles in June.

The most popular line was yet again Tallinn-Helsinki with 358 442 (+15%) passengers. The most unpopular, as always, Helsinki-Rostock with 7534 (-16%) passengers.

http://g.delfi.ee/images/pix/420x0/f1cf065b/file32080347_ff97fdfe.jpg

Interesting fact, a yacht called "Octopus" is currently docked at Tallinn Port since yesterday evening. What makes it special is that its owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. The yacht is world's 9th biggest in lenght. I wonder what's Paul, or at least his yacht, doing here? :)

^^
That's a damn good question and the fact that we get 'incognito' visits from mega rich people & their yachts several times per year makes me wonder if maybe some world famous billionaire has bought penthouse or villa here in Tallinn.

Few pics I took this morning:
http://i32.tinypic.com/17e6i1.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/2dt57uu.jpg

That is just so impressive to watch Tallinn having some cruise ships simultaneously. How many special piers for such ships you have in Tallinn's port?

That is just so impressive to watch Tallinn having some cruise ships simultaneously. How many special piers for such ships you have in Tallinn's port?
There is one dedicated pier and usually room for 2-3 ships on other piers AFAIK.
The dedicated one:
http://images.world66.com/cr/ui/se/cruise_ships_in_ta_galleryfull

^^
I think it's more than 2-3 places on other piers because most cruise ships we've had here was 7,all on same day. As cruise ship quay only has place for two ~300m ships,then there should be 5 more places in rest of the passenger harbour.

Another major project was finished - new container terminal in Muuga harbour (Port Of Tallinn) Entire new terminal area is 71 ha,27 ha of it will be used for container storage & 44 ha for terminal service. New 378m long quay was constructed and one existing quay was extended by 100m. Cost of project - 1 billion EEK.

New terminal allows to increase container cargo handling in Port of Tallinn by 350'000 TEU's.

Few photos of the U/C terminal in May:
http://www.ts.ee/static/body/pildid/pilt_87.jpg

http://www.ts.ee/static/body/pildid/pilt_167.jpg

Currently negotiations are going on with several companies for finding terminal operator.

:cheers:

^ Sounds oddly.. What's the point of constructing (and already putting everything there in operation) a brand new terminal when the operator of all those facilities hasn't even been chosen?! Just wonder, what sums of money are not charged for every single day of the downtime..?

^^
EU funds (without open competition,port would not have received financial support from EU) & some EU laws for port management provided those terms for competition. Given the fact how promising container terminal managing deal is,I'm sure that it wouldn't take long before operator for new terminal is found

I heard that this Muuga terminal is used for transporting totalitarian Venezuela oil to Belarus.

I heard that this Muuga terminal is used for transporting totalitarian Venezuela oil to Belarus.

I heard they do it through Ukraine

You heard old news (as usual)

http://news.belta.by/en/news/econom?id=556528

You heard old news (as usual)

http://news.belta.by/en/news/econom?id=556528
You mixed up "will" and "used"

So, Belarus goods go away from Klaipeda port? How did Estonians manage to make such deal with Belarus? Impressive.. Though, the question is which way after Muuga terminal will the oil go through to reach Novopolotsk - Russia?

So, Belarus goods go away from Klaipeda port? How did Estonians manage to make such deal with Belarus? Impressive.. Though, the question is which way after Muuga terminal will the oil go through to reach Novopolotsk - Russia?

No. Belarus is looking for diversified routes for the Venezualan oil. Currently it's using Odessa port in Ukraine, signed a deal with Muuga in Estonia and is negotiating with Klaipeda port. It may also negotiate for discounts of transportation with Lithuanian Railways. So it's most certainly too early to say whether it's going away or not. Probably not. Belarussian imports/exports via Klaipeda are increasing and the long-term trend is positive.

Riga Trade Port and Russian Uralchem have agreed to build the first stage of mineral fertilisers terminal. Location - Kundzinsala, right bank of Daugava. Land to be rented for 45 years. Amount of investment - not named yet, but several tens of mio EUR.

Planned start of operation - 2012. First stage will have max capacity of 2 mio tons, if it will be success, terminal will be increased several times.

Another major project was finished - new container terminal in Muuga harbour (Port Of Tallinn) Entire new terminal area is 71 ha,27 ha of it will be used for container storage & 44 ha for terminal service. New 378m long quay was constructed and one existing quay was extended by 100m. Cost of project - 1 billion EEK.

New terminal allows to increase container cargo handling in Port of Tallinn by 350'000 TEU's.

Few photos of the U/C terminal in May:
http://www.ts.ee/static/body/pildid/pilt_87.jpg

http://www.ts.ee/static/body/pildid/pilt_167.jpg

Currently negotiations are going on with several companies for finding terminal operator.

:cheers:

Wow :cheers:

Let me boast with what Riga has currently in its port: :)

Abramovich yacht reached Riga port 2 days ago. It costs 129 million $. Pelorus is the world's sixteenth largest luxury yacht at 377 feet 3 inches (115 metres) in length.

1. first photo by me
http://www.imagehost.ro/pict/292050224c51bf5e3aeb7.jpg

2. second photo from Wikipedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/Pelorus-Riga.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pelorus-Riga.jpg

:smug:

Now Latvia is happy.

Kundzinsala district of Riga port will get new terminal for bulk cargo (mainly grain and similar stuff), investment 17 mio EUR. To be built in 3 - 4 years, three stages.

Soon with such temps there wouldn't be any land left on Kundziņsala, thus all those living there will be forced to leave the area.. But anyway that island is vital for Riga port to extend and this way - to develop!

http://www.schiffsfotos.info/media/DIR_65240/Lisco~Gloria.jpg

After an explosion on an upper - car deck, Lithuanian ferry Lisco Gloria sailing from Kiel to Klaipeda, was overrun with fire in Danish territorial waters. All of 236 passengers and crew members were rescued. 22 were injured and 3 had to be rushed to hospital with helicopters.

Reports of a terrorist attack have so far been dismissed, and it is assumed that it was an accident, technical mishap. However, the ferry was barely 8 years old and well maintained. A probe has been launched into what caused the accident.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5gCNzaB55QBQCh-VfIgqgklFEZyJQ?docId=5946f3eb-03e2-456b-a879-5fcffbc5f0a4&size=l

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5iA610AkdjG2tRVIqyzSsiGC1PEAg?docId=37c7480f-0b83-4102-a118-c5e3d461be46&size=l

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5iax7_l6dRYpZZuavv3lEnMamolmw?docId=a1f5777c-2d94-4290-87b7-d932edb7322b&size=l

The burning ferry was drifting towards Danish coast for most part of today, until it was boarded by 4 men and anchored. The fire is expected to be extinguished by the end of the day.

It doesn't look like the ferry will be any good after that

http://g.delfi.lt/images/pix/file37353881_4a8244cb03da4e49ac.jpg

Damn :shocked:

Jeez...

glad it happened in Danish waters, dont know if our coast guards have that good fire-fighting capability.

:ohno::ohno:

After years of discussions, it was finally decided that port of Šventoji will be rebuilt.


http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9900/2bvar.jpg


http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7232/ke91.jpg

nice port :)

Port of Šventoji looks like this right now.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/649/neregetalietuva247.jpg

Paldiski harbour might get 1,15 billion Euro investment,as Port Of Tallinn (Estonian harbour owner) and DMSS (Ukraine) plan to build oil refinery there. Project is in planning stages now,but if approved by Paldiski town officials & environmental surveys,refinery construction would start in close future. Finishing first stage of the project would take two years,after that refinery would have 200 employees and crude oil refining capacity of 3 million tons.
Final stage of the refinery would have 1000 refinery employees and refining capacity of 6 million tons of oil.

Port of Paldiski.
http://www.ts.ee/static/body/pildid/pilt_94.jpg

Source: http://www.logistikauudised.ee/default.aspx?publicationid=84EBE2C1-7EEF-4FFE-AE78-87442ABB19A9

Latvia registers EU's largest increase in passenger turnover in passenger ports in 2009

Latvian maritime ports registered the European Union's largest increase in passenger turnover in 2009, according to data from the EU statistical office Eurostat. 591,000 passengers embarked/disembarked in Latvia's maritime ports in 2009, which is 35.5% more than in 2008. Estonia had a 0.5% decrease and Lithuania – 3.1%.

Slovenian ports were second with a 13.6% increase, Portugal was third with a 9.2% increase. Passenger turnover in Italian ports increased 2.4%, Germany – 2.2%, and Finland – 1.5%. In all other EU member states, passenger turnover in maritime ports decreased in 2009, writes LETA.

The biggest falls were reported by Bulgaria and Romania – 95.5% and 79.7% respectively. Estonia had a 0.5% decrease and Lithuania – 3.1%.

On the other hand, only two EU member states recorded growth in cargo turnover in maritime ports last year – Estonia (6.4% to 39 million tons) and Malta (0.1% to 6 million tons).

Cargo turnover in Latvian maritime ports decreased 2.2% to 61 million tons in 2009, which was the third best result in the EU.

Lithuanian ports registered a 5.6% fall in cargo turnover, handling 34 million tons of cargo altogether.

Romania saw the largest decrease in cargo turnover in maritime ports – 28.5%.

Rotterdam in the Netherlands remains the EU's largest port in terms of cargo turnover, where 347 million tons of cargo was handled last year – 9.8% less than in 2008.

Lindaline plans to start service between Helsinki,Finland and Muhu island,Estonia.

Catamaran 'Merilin' Source: laivakuvasivut.net
http://www.laivakuvasivut.net/lindaline/merilin/kuvat/merilin-03.jpg

Lindaline plans to start service between Helsinki and Kuivastu,port on Muhu island. Service will start in spring. For this,Lindaline uses catamaran 'Merilin',which previously served on Tallinn-Helsinki line. Estimated ticket price is between 40-50 Euros.

2010 statistics for Port of Tallinn.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/29/Port_of_Tallinn_logo.svg/360px-Port_of_Tallinn_logo.svg.png

Liquid cargo: 25,7 million tons (+11,9%)
Bulk cargo: 5,5 million tons (+24,9%)
Ro-Ro: 3,5 million tons (+32,6%)
Container cargo: 152000 TEU (+16%)
Total cargo: 36,6 million tons (+16%)


Number of passengers served within 2010: 7,915 million (+9%) ! All time high! :happy:

http://www.portoftallinn.com/static/menu/top_150_1.jpg

http://www.portoftallinn.com/static/menu/top_63_1.jpg

http://www.portoftallinn.com/static/menu/top_119_1.jpg

http://www.portoftallinn.com/static/menu/top_74_1.jpg

http://www.portoftallinn.com/static/menu/top_73_1.jpg

del

^^
Interesting,it's St.Peter Line's MS Princess Maria. Tbh,according to it's schedule it should be running on St.Petersburg-Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn-St.Petersburg line already,but it seems to be making broader cruises on Baltic sea,if it's in Riga.

Another oddball is Silja Festival,which should be running between Riga & Stockholm on regular basis,but is currently marked in Port of Tallinn's 'ships in harbour' list as cruise ship. No idea about it's other destinations...maybe it's running cruise tours between Tallinn,Riga and Stockholm (tbh,it would be cool to have ship connection between Tallinn & Riga :happy:)

Number of passengers served within 2010: 7,915 million (+9%) ! All time high! :happy:

That's 6 times the population of Estonia. Impressive statistics!

In 2010 Klaipėda Seaport reached and surpassed the stevedoring record amounts of 2008


By preliminary data, the amounts of handled freight in Klaipėda Seaport reached 31.2 tons in 2010, i. e. by 3.3 million tons or by 12% more than in 2009, and by 1.3 million tons or by 4.3% more than in 2008, the record year of the seaport’s history.

“This good result was enabled by timely administrative reforms and business optimisation solutions. Over a year and a half the record stevedoring level of 2008 has not only been reached but even surpassed. I thank the Seaport Authority and companies operating in the seaport for their ability of perfect work organisation and coordination of mutual interests”, said Eligijus Masiulis, Minister of Transport and Communications.

The increased freight handling indicates the growth of global consumption and development of regional international trade. Goods via Klaipėda are transported to all continents, which means that the world economy is recovering and hopefully the year 2011 will become a year of consistent economical growth in Lithuania as well.
http://www.transp.lt/en/news/10790

Another record breaking month saw Klaipeda overtaking Tallinn as the largest port in the Baltics.


Klaipeda - 3,180 mln t. +23,1%


Liquefied cargo - 1,001 mln t. +12,5%
Bulk and dry cargo - 1,255 mln t. +22%
General cargo - 0,921 mln t. +38,3%

TEU - 27 686 units +39,8%
Ro-Ro - 20 319 units +40,7%
Ships - 555; +14,0%
Passengers - 19 783; +32,8%



Tallinn - 3,000 mln t. -3,7%

Riga - 2,698 mln t. +23,3%

Ventspils - 1,878 mln t. -20,8%

Butinge Terminal - 0,798 mln t. - +33%

Liepaja - 0,386 mln t. +24,1%

Klaipėda port breaks record again

On 1 March 2011 containership “MSC Fortunate” called at Klaipėda seaport. “MSC Fortunate” is the biggest and widest containership with the largest cargo carrying capacity that has ever entered Klaipėda port. The fact that Klaipėda port accommodated “MSC Fortunate”, which is classified as a post-Panamax type vessel, clearly proves that the port has achieved a new level of services - becoming the leader not only in liner shipping among the Baltic Sea countries, but also is building the name as a distribution centre for containerised cargo.

The ship, which is 274.64 metres long, 40 metres wide, its cargo capacity - 5551 TEU, was moored at quays of stevedoring company “Klaipėdos Smeltė”.
The international operator of port terminals Terminal Investment Limited, which holds the controlling interest in the company „Klaipėdos Smeltė“ and collaborates with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has plans to establish a centre of containerised cargo distribution for the Baltic Sea region in the port of Klaipėda.
Until present, the last largest containership that visited Klaipėda was “MSC Aniello” (length - 259.50 metres, width - 32.20 metres, cargo carrying capacity - 4056 TEU).

http://www.shipspotting.com/photos/middle/9/3/7/1262739.jpg
Photo author: Gena Anfimov

http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/fckuploads/image/Milzinas23.jpg

http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/fckuploads/image/Milzinas41.jpg

Information and photos from:
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/en
http://shipspotting.com/gallery/photo_search.php?submitter=40525

Lots of stuff is happening in Port Of Tallinn...

Trouble with new container terminal.
New Muuga container terminal administration was given to Russian owned company - Rail Garant. Another competitor,Muuga CT (owned by Estonian Transiidikeskus AS) has now sued port for selecting weaker competitor and sees signs of manipulation with contract rules by port authority. This probably ends up in vicious court case as at stake is management rights of highly lucrative Chinese container cargo terminal. On worst case scenario it takes years before new container terminal starts working.

Vopak E.O.S. plans to increase number of oil storage tanks.
Vopak E.O.S. AS (Dutch owned) is planning to build new oil storage tanks with total volume of 400000 m3. This decision allows to handle additional 5 million tons of oil products each year and load/unload VLCC-class tankers. Right now Vopak has three oil terminals with total volume of 951000 m3

Nord Gas is building LPG terminal in Muuga harbour.
New LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) terminal will handle Russian & Kazakhstan liquid gas and supplies Baltic market with LPG. Terminal will be built in two stages - terminal handling volume at first stage will be 300000 tonnes of LPG each year,at second stage volume would increase to 800000 tonnes of LPG each year.

Not to be mixed up with LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminals proposed all over Baltics :D

Port Of Tallinn has released this year's cruise ships list. In 2011 Tallinn will get 287 cruise ship visits. Busiest day will be 13th July,when ships bring ~9000 tourists to Tallinn.

Full list of visiting cruise ships can be viewed here (.pdf file) : http://www.portoftallinn.com/static/files/15.Cruise-Ships-Tallinn-2011.pdf

Cruise ship season starts 'officially' (cruise ships have been visiting Tallinn in this winter too) on 1st May and ends on 4th October.

Latest stats of Klaipeda Seaport are available

March 2011 (difference compared to March 2010)

Total cargo turnover: 2 942 681 t (+13.3%)
TEU: 38 116 (+60.3%)
Number of ships: 584 (+21.7%)
Butinge oil terminal: 499 636 t (+23.3)

It seems this year is going to be good for Klaipeda. Records are broken one after another and it seems to keep the trend.

Data source: http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/en.php/news/news/in_march_of_the_current_year__the_highest_container_handling_turnover_throughout_the_overall_history_of_the_port_/13083

What about Riga, Ventspils and Tallinn?

Veeteede Amet / Estonian Maritime Administration has started procurement for buying 2 new ferries,which are planned to be used on mainland-Kihnu island and mainland-Vormsi island lines. Ferries must have ice class,room for 200 passengers and 22 cars or 2 large trucks. requirements for ferries - length 43-45m,width 11-13m,hull depth 2,7m and minimum speed 12 knots. Cost of new ferries is estimated to be 15,3 million euros and Veeteede Amet requests option for buying third ferry under same conditions from winner.

Source: http://www.e24.ee/?id=421031

What about Riga, Ventspils and Tallinn?

Port of Tallinn hasn't released it's statistics yet (they release statistics for each quarter,so soon we should get January-March statistics)

Saaremaa laevakompanii third(and final) new vessel called "Hiiumaa" arrived to Rohuküla harbor from Fiskerstrand Verft BLRT Norway. :cheers:
http://www.tuulelaevad.ee/webroot/cm/dwm/galerii/test.php?pict=http://www.tuulelaevad.ee/webroot/cm/tmp/313.jpg&size=600

Yesterday largest cruise ship in the history of Baltic passenger ports arrived in port of Riga. 290m giant - Costa Pacifica.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Pacifica

http://img.apollo.lv/upload/2011-05-25/239039/1306305958_apollo-14.jpg

http://www.baltictravelnews.com/gallery/3509/mid_60621.jpg

http://y.delfi.lv/orig/78810/2059076_gxNxiT.jpeg

http://www.baltictravelnews.com/gallery/3509/mid_60632.jpg

Few my photos:

http://www.urbancentre.net/citylife/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC_7547.jpg

http://www.urbancentre.net/citylife/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC_7549.jpg

More in my blog: http://www.photoriga.com/

Yesterday largest cruise ship in the history of Baltic passenger ports arrived in port of Riga. 290m giant - Costa Pacifica.


hmm interesting. I have seen Celebrity Eclipse (317m) in Tallinn :lol::lol:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Celebrity_Eclipse_IMG_5898_C.JPG/800px-Celebrity_Eclipse_IMG_5898_C.JPG

I guess it probably measures as the largest by the amount of people it can accommodate.

Length-wise, there was also Celebrity Constellation.

Constellation In Klaipėda
http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Constellation2007_Copenhagen/Constellation_070816-163_b.jpg


Costa Pacifica entering Klaipėda
http://www.ve.lt/uploads/img/catalog/15/photo_15_78291501.jpg

http://www.ve.lt/uploads/img/catalog/15/photo_15_57871075.jpg

http://www.ve.lt/uploads/img/catalog/15/photo_15_48497394.jpg

Port of Tallinn have been served more than 8 million travelers this year!:banana:
Postimees (http://www.postimees.ee/664910/tallinna-sadama-reisjate-arv-uletab-tana-8-miljoni-piiri/)

Pretty damn impressive! I watched the TV news about it (some Russian chick was 8 millionth passenger) and they said smth about breaking 9 million passengers mark in next year :shocked: I guess it's only matter of time,before port starts servicing 10 mln passengers in each year...

30,96 million tonnes of different cargoes have been handled at the Freeport of Riga during the eleven months of 2011, which is 11,3% more than in the corresponding period last year.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=50353

In the first 11 months of 2011, Ventspils Port handled 26 million tons of cargo, which is 14% more than over the corresponding period last year

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=49934

Klaipeda/Butinge in January - November 2011



Overall cargo: 42 mln. tons (+18,2%)
TEU: 350 962 (+30,9%)
Passengers: 0,303 mln. (+0,1%)


http://www.ve.lt/uploads/img/catalog/1/klaipedos-uostas-islaike-lyderio-pozicijas2.jpg

Impressive, Klaipeda! If that trend continues, Lithuania's port industry with it's one port will soon gets close to Latvia's 3 ports.

Lithuania should have 3 seaports by 2020. Rebuilding of Sventoji port should start in 2015, i think, though it will be meant primarily for tourism. And there's also a deep sea port being planned in Butinge, close to Latvian border.

As for Klaipeda, what is most impressive is that to this day over half of cargo handled in the port is of "Lithuanian origin", so it is safe from mood swings in Russia and the u/c seaport of Ust-luga will be of no consequence to Klaipeda, whereas it will inevitably rid Latvia and Estonia of some Russian transit cargo.

Sventoji port
http://images.bite.lt/banga/files/club/201104/4d9cd9bd3dee0.jpg

Yeah, being the business partner with Russia is always a bit risky thing, but, on the other hand, it means that Klaipeda doesn't export >1/2 of it's port services.

Klaipeda couldn't handle such flows of cargo right now. The development - construction of new and upgrade of old facilities can barely keep up with an ever-increasing cargo flow as it is and the port can't expand west into Curonian spit for obvious reasons and further south into Curonian lagoon or deepen the shipping canal too much because of ecology. A deepened and expanded south shipping canal would allow salt water from Baltic sea to flow into Curonian lagoon and that would devastate it's fresh water environment. For that reason a deep sea port in Butinge is in a planning stage right now.

Riga port: turnover 34,07 mio tons, +11,8% to 2010 results
Ventspils: 28,45 mio tons, +15%
Liepāja: 4,86 mio tons, +10,8%

Pretty damn impressive! I watched the TV news about it (some Russian chick was 8 millionth passenger) and they said smth about breaking 9 million passengers mark in next year :shocked: I guess it's only matter of time,before port starts servicing 10 mln passengers in each year...

Ambitious goal to brake 9 million. It took 12 years to go from 8m to 9m in Helsinki harbor.

Passengers: 0,303 mln. (+0,1%)
[/LIST]


These are shameful numbers :ohno: There is, even, no Klaipėda- Stockholm route, although capital of Sweden is only some 400 km away...
Even, more people would be glad to travel to Germany by ferry instead of traveling through tragic polish roads for 18 hours and more... And the ones, who travel to Germany and Western Europe by car or bus from Western Lithuania, must, firstly, ride 200 km to the East... :ohno:

My friends, who have business in that direction, used ferries many times when traveling to Scandinavia... From Riga :bash:

^^ There is no infrastructure for that in Klaipeda. The construction of passenger terminal has started only recently and it will not be operational before 2013. The existing ferry terminal is primarily meant for cargo.

http://www.ve.lt/uploads/img/catalog/1/pajudejo-keleiviu-terminalo-suprastrukturos-reikalai2.jpg

(c)Eimantas, from miestai.net
http://www.miestai.net/forumas/picture.php?albumid=466&pictureid=15533

http://www.miestai.net/forumas/picture.php?albumid=466&pictureid=14083

Klaipėda/Būtingė in 2011


Overall cargo: 45,5 mln. tons (+17%)
TEU: 382 185 (+29,5%)
Passengers: 0,324 mln. (+0,9%)


http://www.1l.lt/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/gates_to_port.jpg

A ship for a new LPG terminal in Klaipeda is going to be constructed by Norwegian company Höegh LNG. The ship has to start operating until the end of 2014. New terminal is going to be constructed according to the specifications of this ship. The capacity of the ship - 170K cubic metres of gas.

New LPG terminal in Klaipeda is planned to bring a competition in gas market in Lithuania, as Gazprom now has a monopoly here, which means we have to pay one of the highest prices for the gas in Europe.

http://www.miestai.net/forumas/picture.php?albumid=762&pictureid=21840

What part of Lithuanian gas demand will the LNG terminal be able to supply?

"We can supply about 11 million tonnes of gas per day, which is about the amount Lithuania consumes at a winter day," said Rokas Masiulis, general manager of Klaipedos Nafta.

"That means that we would be able to meet the demand if Gazprom halts all gas supplies," he added.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E8CN0YH20120123?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Good. And I could bet there are lots of pissed off and irritated faces in Kremlin. :)

There's a difference between LPG and LNG terminals... Unless some of you wrote it incorrectly.

There's a difference between LPG and LNG terminals... Unless some of you wrote it incorrectly.

My bad. It's LNG terminal.

Cargo turnover at Riga Port grew by 14.8% in 4 months



Cargo turnover results of the first four months of the year 2012 suggest that Riga Port with the total of 12.52 million tons transshipped is the largest among ports of the Baltic countries. A dramatic rise in cargo turnover has been observed in Riga Port since January and results of these four month are strong as well – the volume of cargo serviced by Riga Port grew by 14.89% year-on-year, informs BC port’s press service.


The bulk cargo segment showed a 17.8% increase, or an increase by slightly less than a million of tons of processed cargo compared to four months of the previous year. Its overall amount constitutes 7.12 millions of tons. Traditionally, the dominating cargo group is coal – its volume growth dynamics exceeds 20.2% and this year has already exceeded the limit of 5 millions of tons.

The transshipment of other bulk cargo, including crushed stone, wood pellets, asphalt is also increasing. The amount of wood chips has grown by 17.2% and the amount of scrap metal has increased by almost two and a half times.

A decline in turnover can be observed in the transport of artificial fertilizers (-15%), ore (-69.7%), peat (-8%) and ferro-alloy (-24.7%) cargo.

In the general cargo segment the overall increase is 10.9%. The highest growth dynamics – 32.6% – can be observed in the containerized cargo group. This year 1.23 millions of tons of cargo placed in containers have been transshipped so far. A dramatic rise suggests of the increase in the popularity of containerized cargo in maritime transport.

Roll on/Roll Off cargo group of the general cargo segment saw an increase by 7.1%. The amount of transshipped timber has dropped (-13%). As reported before, the transshipment of timber cargo is gradually passing under the control of small ports, therefore the volume of this cargo in Riga Port is falling.

The statistics on liquid cargo shows that this year's growth dynamics is 11.5% thus the overall amount constitutes 3.19 millions of tons. The absolute majority of it (3.18 mln t) are petroleum products.

Positive dynamics (+4.6%) can also be observed in the area of passenger transport compared to the previous year – this year 208,189 passengers have already been served by Riga Port, including 4,791 cruise passengers.