We have got an interesting thread about airports, but what about the seaports? Don`t they deserve a separate thread? I think they do. And i would like to know more about other seaports ;)

A bit of statistics from last year:

KLAIPEDA PORT

20,2 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 4,7 % less than in the relevant period in 2003, were handled in Klaipeda Seaport in January - December, 2004.

The key reason of handling dynamics of 2004 is immense reduction of grain handling (- 53 %) because of poor grain crop in 2003 and insignificant oil product change.
In spite of the fact that the volume of handled in December oil products handling was bigger than in November of the same year, the forecasted cargo handling was not reached. During January – December of 2004 6,4 million tons of oil products were handled in Klaipeda Seaport, i.e. by 3 % less than in 2003. 584 thousand tons of oil products were handled in December 2004, i.e. by 17 % less than during the relevant period of 2004. Ceased supply of oil products from Russia influenced oil product handling.

As to compare with 2003, the handling of metal and alloys, metal scrap and perishable products increased in 2004. A favourable influence on the latter had veterinary control posts complying with EU requirements established in Klaipeda Seaport in May 2004, i.e. earlier than in the other Eastern Baltic ports.

In 2004 intensive container growth of container handling could be observed. 174241 TEU containers were handled in January- December 2004, i.e. by 47 % more than the previous year. According to the container handling results of 2004 Klaipeda Seaport remains the largest container port in the Baltic States.

----------------------2003 1-12---------2004 1-12---------2004/2003
Klaipeda------------118366------------174241-------------+ 47.2
Riga------------------145665------------152166-------------+ 4.5
Tallinn-----------------99629------------113081-------------+ 13.5

Handling figures presented by the main stevedoring companies in, 2004 as compared to 2003 are as follows: AB “Klaipedos juru kroviniu kompanija” -6%, AB “Klaipedos nafta” -3%, JKK UAB “Bega” +4 %, AB “Klaipedos Smelte” +4 %, UAB Klaipedos terminalo grupe -5%.

During January- December, 2004 7064 units were transported by wagon ferries or by 43 % more than last year. The number of road vehicles was 149257 unitsm, i.e. the number was the same as the previous year.

In January- December, 2004 Klaipeda Seaport rendered services to 155749 ferry boat and cruise ships passengers, i.e. by 15 % more than in 2003.The passenger flow of cruise vessels increased by 62 % and made 14206 persons.

Evaluation of handling tendencies – cargo handling in Klaipeda Seaport in 2004 is the highest handling result during the entire period of independence, the except year of 2003 when the record cargo volume reached up to 21,2 million tons.
7,24 million tons of oil was transhipped in Butinge SPM in 2004, i.e. less by 32 % than in 2003. In January – December 2004 Klaipeda Seaport and Butinge SPM together handled 27,54 million tons of cargo, i.e. less by 14% than last year.

NEIGHBOURING PORTS

37,44 million tons of cargo, including 69 % of oil and oil products, the total flow of which increased by 8 %, was handled in Tallinn Seaport in January – December, 2004, i.e. by 7,2 % more than in 2003.

Riga Seaport in 2004 January – December handled 23,99 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 10,4 % more as to compare with the last year. Cargo growth was reached by increased coal handling – 9,44 million tons or by 80% more than in 2003 was handled in 2004.
Presently coal makes even 39% of total Riga Seaport handling. It is worth noting that handling of many other kinds of key cargo in Riga Seaport goes down (Ro-Ro cargo - 29%, fertilizers - 26%, timber - 3%, oil products - 11%).


Cargo handling results of the Baltic ports in January – December 2004

Port-----------------------Handled m. tons-------------------Change by %
Tallinn---------------------------37.44-----------------------------+ 7.2
Ventspils-----------------------27.81-----------------------------+ 1.8
Riga------------------------------23.99-----------------------------+ 10.4
Klaipeda------------------------20.2------------------------------- - 4.7
Butinge SPM-------------------7.24----------------------------- - 32
Liepaja----------------------------4.47------------------------------ - 7,9

Feel free to post news and statistics ;)

Great idea, this was needed for some while!
But this thread will cover two things:
1. Port activities in general
2. Passenger flows through ports
- - -
Riga Passenger port is at its all-time low point and it can't get lover than now IMHO.
The plans to build new passenger terminal with all the whistles-and-bells still hang in air and the owner of passenger port and Riga City point at each other. Foreign ferry companies somehow don't come to Riga... this means that something is wrong with Riga passenger port and sea port in general. Former City council "made" a local sea-line company "Rigas juras linija", which is not successful and now seems to be near financial collapse. Weird... Riga could be very good destination for ferries if some basic things would be brought in order.
May be currently there is turning point in all of this - active interference of government and the new Riga City Council might change the things. They have invited "independent foreign commentator" (their activities so far) - Estonian "Tallink" to come to Riga. And Tallink has made the proposals - what should be changed in Riga before they start their business here. Mainly - make lower the tax on ferries and to improve the passenger facilities. Meanwhile government has allowed visa-free entrance for ferry passengers for 72 hours.
- - -
Sad :( there are no active Latvian business people in this business area nowadays and foreigners should be invited.

- - -
Ventspils still is the best harbour in Latvia IMHO. Currently they are completing the grain terminal, which is partly owned by Kazakhstan (and thus gives warranties, that it would be used). This will add to turnover some 2 - 3 million tons. And they are completing juice terminal too.

The biggest problem here in Klaipeda i guess is the taxes of railways, thats why even "Mazeikiu Nafta" is considering to transport oil over Latvia, that would be a very big loss to Butinge and Klaipedos Nafta which are transporting oil. But it seem that things are starting to change to the better side, because the authorityesare taking some action to lower the taxes.

Here`s some more important figures from this years six months:
---------------------------------------2004 m. --------2005 m. -----------2005/2004,%
Containers (TEU) --------------77371---------104172------------------- 135
Passengers--------------------- 79524----------- 90090 ------------------113
Wagonload ------------------------3725------------ 3020 --------------------81
The last line is what i was talking about :(

Between "Klaipedos smelte" in autumn will start a container terminal project and will invest more than 20mln. euros, because the 2 container terminals that we have will soon be not enough.

It will handle about 150000(TEU) per year
http://www.smelte.lt/img/ins_terminal.jpg

Very great thread, there was a lack of such thread here! What are the ferry routes from Klaipeda?

Very great thread, there was a lack of such thread here! What are the ferry routes from Klaipeda?

Of what? Passengers, RO-RO, containers? :)

If passengers then:
Klaipėda – Kylis (Vokietija)
Klaipėda – Mukranas (Vokietija)
Klaipėda – Karlshamnas (Švedija)
Klaipėda – Kopenhaga – Fredericija (Danija)
Karlshamnas (Švedija) – Klaipėda – Gdanskas (Lenkija) – Klaipėda
Klaipėda – Aabenraa – Aarhus (Danija)

Although there are much more of them...

Great idea for a thread. Keep on posting :D And of Scandinavian seaports are also welcome here, right? ;)

Talking about passengers, Klaipeda at the moment doesn`t have a passenger terminal, but "Klasco" is now working on it and the project is near the end, it will be a passenger and cargo terminal capable to handle six ferries per day, the cost of this terminal will be about 15mln. euros and it`s sheduled to be finished in 2007.

Between, "Tallink" is planing to open a new ferry line Riga - Stocholm, but Riga has to lower it`s tariff`s twice, because they are too high now and upgrade it`s terminal - representative from "Tallink" said.
I think it would be a very big line ;)

Great idea for a thread. Keep on posting :D And of Scandinavian seaports are also welcome here, right? ;)

I think they may be in an another league :D, but it would be interesting to hear from them too ;)

Slightly off topic:

Does the river transport both freight and passenger in Lithuania exist? What about Kaunas River port? 8 years ago i saw a ship transporting sand and those are last memories :D

^ Don`t really know if it`s profitable ;)

Does Tallinn have any people that are interested about theyr own port? :?

The plan of the port of Klaipeda (interesting) ;)
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/lt.php/_zemelapiai_ir_planai/uosto_planas/522


Over 104k containers were handled in January-June, that is 35% more than the same period last year, so i think that at the end of the year it will be about 230k, what is about 77% of the potential, wha tis 300k a year. Between the new terminal will be able to handle not 150k, but 250k containers per year.
The new terminal will be able to handle hughe ships that can carry up to 3000k, that should increase the loads of containers significantly.

Between, we have something like Maersk :D
"Kursiu linija" turnover grew by 36% last year to 26mln. euros.
"Kuršiu inijos" container handling, TEU
1999 m. 16.000
2000 m. 18.000
2001 m. 25.000
2002 m. 46.000
2003 m. 60.000
2004 m. 100.000
2005 m. 140.000*
*-forecast

A new container train "Merkurijus" will start to shuttle in 23 of July, its a joint Lithuanian, Russian and Belarussian project, that should increase the container shipments.
Similar project "Vikingas" transported 4000 containers in the first quarter of the year, that is two times more than in the whole last year.

Here`s an interesting project:

New opportunities for SC "Laivite" emerge with the total modernization of all production resources that, on one hand, will significantly increase the volume and quality of performed works in ship repair and modernization, and on the other hand, will allow the yard to develop the ship building activities.

http://www.laivite.lt/galery/_laivite/pletra/pletra_en.jpg

The investment project, approved by the Council for reconstruction and development of Klaipeda port, includes the following:

1) The existing quays (No. 19, 20, 21, 22) reconstruction.

2) The new quays (No. 22a, 23, 25, 25a, 26) building.

Implementation of the investment project might speed up the yard turnover 3-3.5 times and create up to 800 additional workplaces in the period of nearest 4-5 years.

The yard strategic plans also hold the transition to the line assembling of yachts and motor-boats and continuation of plane construction development activities.

http://www.laivite.lt/galery/_laivite/laiv_sian/7ac8.jpg

Of all the Baltic ports I've only seen Tallinn. The constant coming and going of ferries was AMAZING! :eek:

^ Almost 6mln. passengers per year, Tallinn is a hughe passenger port, but it would be interesting to know who are traveling with them, i think that majority of them are Finns, looking were to get drunk for lower costs :D Thats why a lot of businessman are afraid of high prices in Estonia, that would be bad :ohno:

You're right, ShuMi: the vast majority of those ferries come from Finland or are Finland-bound. It almost seems like a commuter system. And most of the traffic is for beer & booze? :D

I hear the Swedes head for Riga for similar purposes. ;)

Riga may be gets some 5% of the ferry passengers comparing to Tallinn :(

Btw. Ventspils is going to build 50 mio EUR worth coal terminal, to be completed in 2008. Some days ago in Ventspils harbour was opened new very specific factory producing plastic parts for specific (medical etc.) furniture. Glass plastic factory would be built in Ventspils harbour by another Latvian company from Valmiera town. At least one LV harbour is active.

Liepaja shipyards (Tosmares kugubuvetava) has completed construction of two cargo ferries for Austria.

Riga Seaport in 2004 January – December handled 23,99 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 10,4 % more as to compare with the last year. Cargo growth was reached by increased coal handling – 9,44 million tons or by 80% more than in 2003 was handled in 2004.
Presently coal makes even 39% of total Riga Seaport handling. It is worth noting that handling of many other kinds of key cargo in Riga Seaport goes down (Ro-Ro cargo - 29%, fertilizers - 26%, timber - 3%, oil products - 11%).
From were does the coal come? Russia?
In Tallinn coal makes almost 70% of the handling.
Klaipeda does`nt handle coal at all.

Between, what are the biggest port companies of Riga and Ventspils?

Hello! :D didnt see It

Yes, Tallinn is the aboslute tiger in the baltics with seaports. We handle the most Cargo, regarding to overall, but for containers we bow down to Klaipeda.
about cargo, most is LIQUID BULK (69%) :) A new coal terminal was just opened so we will see figures rise soon :D
by figures from 2004 Tallinn port contributes 37.4% of Cargo of the ports on the Eastern shores of the Baltic sea (Polish ports, lithuanian ports, Latvian ports, russian ports)
also, i think there is no real competitor to us in passengers, true most come from Helsinki, but also the number of stockholm visitors is gaining mementum Fast! Also, we get ALOT of cruise ships :)

in 2004 the total amount of passengers was: 6 740 000 passengers, but that figure will be greatly bigger in 2005, because of EU, and because of a new cruise ship quay :)

so in 2005 the figure will be 7 mio something :) (mby close to 8 mio)
Im so optimistic because Tallinn port handled 5 860 000 mio passengers in 2003, that is alot less then 2004!

just to give idea how big Tallinn port is and how powerful... : The profit it generated was HALF a billion Eek... 34 mio euro, that is serious profit!

yeah :) we are cruising :)

just to give idea how big Tallinn port is and how powerful... : The profit it generated was HALF a billion Eek... 34 mio euro, that is serious profit!

yeah :) we are cruising :)

Not very serious ;)
I could maybe try to count the profit of Lithuanian ones? :devil:

Between what are the bigest companies by turnover and profit?

Sounds good for Tallinn indeed! :okay:

so in 2005 the figure will be 7 mio something :)

Will they count me twice? ;)

WH, im not sure !

Does Riga have an official site of the port? Because i can`t find it.

Some stevedoring companies have big plans for developing ;)

Klaipedos "Smelte"

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/container20terminal20location.jpg

Container terminal
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/foto_kv1.jpg

Agricultural goods terminal
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/foto_kv2.jpg

Frozen goods terminal
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/Terminal20for20frozen20goods20handl.jpg

Quay building works
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/new20quay20line.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/foto_terminal_t2_2.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/jiebus/foto_invest2.jpg

Riga port Webpage - http://www.rop.lv/English.htm
Don't expect too much from this institution though :(

Comparing:

Riga

The Freeport of Riga is located along a 15-kilometer stretch on both shores of the Daugava River.
Total territory............................7 337,7 ha;
land..................................2 520,0 ha;
water..................................4 817,7 ha.
Total length of the berths - 13 818 meters.
Max draught at a berth - 11,0 meters.
The Freeport is open for navigation all year round.
80% of the cargo turnover in the Freeport of Riga is transit freight to and from CIS.
There are 34 stevedoring companies successfuly operating in the Freeport of Riga.
Main types of cargo handled in the Freeport are containers, various metals, timber, coal, fertilizers, chemical cargoes, oil products and food.
Cargo handling capacity (calculated) of the terminals operating in the Freeport is 45 million tons per annum.


Klaipeda

Land territory 415 ha
Port waters 623 ha
Warehouse facilities 136 136 m2
Tanks for oil products 350 000 m3
Tanks for other liquid products 131 000 t
Warehouses for bulk cargo 198 500 t
Open storage sites 454 920 m2
Cold storage facilities 23 254 m2
Total length of quays 18 162 m
Length of railway tracks 36 000 m
The depth of the entrance channel 14.5 m
Maximum allowed vessels’ draught 13.5 m

Tallinn

The Port of Tallinn consists of 4 constituent harbours
The total port territory in four harbours is 607 ha
The total port aquatory in four harbours is 1001 ha
The total number of quays is 64
The total length of quays is 11.9 km
Maximum depth is 18 m
Number of terminal operators currently in the Port of Tallinn is 21
Number of employees currently employed by the Port of Tallinn is ~700

Port Of tallinn, will soon consist of 5 ports, the construction of the fifth port Port of Saaremaa begun :) It will be a cruise and passenger port capable of servicing up to 300m long vessels :)

Klaipeda is already capable to handle such long vessels. What about the dept of the port?
Of the 5 ports Muga will have no rivals in Tallinn, but what will happen if Russia really will build Ust Luga port like they are projecting?
As i know, most of the cargo in Tallinn is Russian transit :|

not much will happen, that will effect all baltic ports, since klaipeda also carries goods to Russia!

65% of cargo in Klaipeda is Lithuanian ;) Not as in Riga, Tallinn or Ventspils. In Tallinn 80% is Russian as i know.
It`s Belarus and Kazakhstan who transports more than Russia in latest years.
Between how much of the cargo in Tallinn is Estonian or other nationality?

Russia's free economic zone plans would affect Estonia's transit

The plans of Russia to open a special economic zone in the region of Ust-Luuga port near Estonia will affect Estonia's transit business, Eesti Ekspress writes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed last week a special economic zones law, according to which a zone of such kind would be built in the Ust-Luuga port between NE Estonian border city Narva and St Petersburg.

In a long-term perspective, the Ust-Luuga port area, which will get an injection of new life as a special economic zone, will definitely affect Estonia's transit, said Eesti Raudtee development director Raivo Vare.

He notes, at the same time, that the tonnage of transit passing through Estonia may not decrease, but plans to develop industrial parks and enterprises that are connected to processing Russian raw materials or to production for the Russian market will be hit worst.

The project states that 5-6 billion dollars would be invested in the Ust-Luuga special economic zone, taking into consideration that by 2015 the port's capacity is 70-100 million tons instead of the current 800,000 tons.

"Most likely our Eastern neighbors cite large figures to get a lot of attention,” Vare said, adding that these figures shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Ah, so they smell hard cash and want a share of it? :D

Ah, so they smell hard cash and want a share of it? :D

Who doesn`t want them? :D

ACTIVITIES OF KLAIPEDA AND NEIGHBOURING PORTS IN JANUARY-JULY, 2005

Container handling

Ports --------------2004-------------- 2005------------ 2005/2004, % (+,-)
Tallinn -----------65 309 ------------70 987 ---------------------9
Riga --------------92 881------------ 91 192------------------- -2
Ventspils--------- 292 -----------------992------------------- 3,4-fold
Klaipėda --------92 991----------- 123 608------------------- 33

Cargo handling results

Ports ----------------2004 1-7 -----------------2005 1-7 -----------2005/2004, %
Tallinn --------------22 410,7 ------------------23 161,7 --------------103,4
Venspils -----------17 346,0 ------------------17 646,0 --------------101,7
Riga -----------------13 928,0 ------------------14 305,8 --------------102,7
Klaipėda -----------11 971,3 ------------------12 209,8 --------------102,0
Būtingė -------------5 335,0 -------------------3 005,0 ------------------56,3
Liepaja --------------2 761,4 -------------------2 688,3 ------------------97,4

id like to add... that Tallinn harbours started construction of the fifth harbour... Saaremaa Harbour...! YEEY!

^^ It seems that you are so happy :D

Port Of tallinn, will soon consist of 5 ports, the construction of the fifth port Port of Saaremaa begun :) It will be a cruise and passenger port capable of servicing up to 300m long vessels :)

Heard anything about the new deep-sea harbour in Klaipeda, that would cost up to 1bln. euros ? ;)

um... no 1bln Euros... Haehahe :D Where will Lithuania get that money? ;)

I think something called "bank" operates in Lithuania too :D
Don`t really know now, but it is calculated, that the harbour should dividend in 14 years :|

Something like this:
http://img150.exs.cx/img150/8143/klaipedalietuv00208mp.jpg

seems small... :D are you sure it wasnt 1 bio turkish liras? ;)

Not eek, thats for sure ;)

The first Estonian shipping company "Tallink's" ferry will start operating trips between Riga and Stockholm already next January, Minister of Transport Ainars Slesers (Latvia's First Party) agreed with "Tallink" chairman of the board Enn Pant today, LETA learned from the Transport Ministry.

Another "Tallink" ferry could start operating on the Riga-Stockholm route ahead of the Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga next May.

It is planned that "Tallink" will launch regular ferry traffic on January 10.

I still have some doubts about it (Riga Freeport Authority, I mean), but hope it will happen.

i hope they launch a Riga - Tallinn route soon too ... that would be a awesome link
Tallink has ordered some 5 new ships... cant wait to see where are all of those going!

I wonder why Baltic is not criss-crossed by small ferries, f.e. from Riga to Gotland... now that would be fine!

General and bulk cargo handling still increases in Klaipeda port

1.7 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 14 % more than in respective period last year was handled in the port of Klaipeda in August.

In total 13.91 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 3.5 % more than in the same period in 2004 was handled during eight months this year.

During the eight months this year the increase was observed in volumes of all the types of cargo, except liquid ones. During the eight months by 10 % less liquid cargo was handled in the port (4.6 million tons this year, 5.1 million tons – last year). The decrease was observed no matter the fact that the volumes in handling of liquid fertilizers increased by 41 %.

During January-August 140.6 thousand TEU containers were handled. Increase in recorded by 32 %.

Handling of fertilizers increased by 26 %, up to 2.8 million tons. In comparison with the respective period last year handling of liquid fertilizers increased by 41 %, bulk fertilizers – by 18 %, packed fertilizers – by 56 %.

In total during eight months this year the handling of grain increased fourfold ( up to 285.4 thousand tons), handling of iron and steel products increased twofold (up to 315.7 thousand tons) and handling of perishable products increased up to 308.9 thousand tons.

During January-August services were rendered to 132.9 thousand passengers in the port of Klaipeda, i.e. 5 % more than last year.

3.5 million tons of crude oil were handled in Butinge SPM in January-August 2005.




More cruise lines show their interest in Klaipeda Seaport

This year Klaipeda Seaport has attracted even nine new international cruise lines. The liner “Costa Martina” belonging to the cruise line “Costa Crociere” who has called the port today is not an exception.
“Our impression about Klaipeda is as of well developed and professional port. Port services were ready to accommodate precisely our vessel; the town itself is very cosy, green, creating an optimistic mood. Next year we will come to Klaipeda with a twice bigger vessel “Costa Classica” and bring 1600 tourists, because the interest in the Baltic Seaports is rather big. I will submit the best recommendations to the rest “Carnival Corporation” subsidiaries and their directors“, - told the Italian origin captain of the vessel Mauro Bellomo during the official meeting with the representatives of Klaipeda town and the Seaport.
Cruise vessel “Costa Marina” is of 174 meters length, 26 meters beam and has 8 meter draught. The vessel brought 766 tourist, 70 % of which went to diverse sight seeing excursions prepared by UAB “Krantas Travel”. The agent of the ship is UAB “Limarko”. The starting point of the itinerary of the cruise vessel was in Kiel; after getting acquainted with Klaipeda region places of interest the tourists will leave for Riga port.

Russia's free economic zone plans would affect Estonia's transit

The plans of Russia to open a special economic zone in the region of Ust-Luuga port near Estonia will affect Estonia's transit business, Eesti Ekspress writes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed last week a special economic zones law, according to which a zone of such kind would be built in the Ust-Luuga port between NE Estonian border city Narva and St Petersburg.

In a long-term perspective, the Ust-Luuga port area, which will get an injection of new life as a special economic zone, will definitely affect Estonia's transit, said Eesti Raudtee development director Raivo Vare.

He notes, at the same time, that the tonnage of transit passing through Estonia may not decrease, but plans to develop industrial parks and enterprises that are connected to processing Russian raw materials or to production for the Russian market will be hit worst.

The project states that 5-6 billion dollars would be invested in the Ust-Luuga special economic zone, taking into consideration that by 2015 the port's capacity is 70-100 million tons instead of the current 800,000 tons.

"Most likely our Eastern neighbors cite large figures to get a lot of attention,” Vare said, adding that these figures shouldn't be taken too seriously.

How is the infrastructure in the Ust-Luuga area? Obviously, the plan is to replace Estonian ports as a channel of imports, but how much is needed to make it work?

With regards,
Kristoffer Mogensen

great thread, Tallinn kicks ass, lol,,, 37.4 million tones, wow, that's a lot for such a small country....

How is the infrastructure in the Ust-Luuga area? Obviously, the plan is to replace Estonian ports as a channel of imports, but how much is needed to make it work?

With regards,
Kristoffer Mogensen

Ust-Luga (Leningrad region) A Special Economic Zone
Date:01.09.2005

The territory of seaport Ust-Luga(Leningrad region) is "objectively attractive" to creation there special an economic zone, chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the leader of a party " Unit Russia " Boris Gryzlov considers. Gryzlov has declared it during a meeting with the governor of area Valery Serdjukovym who was taken place today, on August, 31, in Saint Petersburg. " Here and sea, including ferry ways, railway ferry ways. Here the railway. Here, certainly, the advanced infrastructure, first of all power. It is very attractive region to create capacities in the most different directions of the industry ", - Gryzlov has declared. Gryzlov has reminded, that now subjects of federation put forward the offers on creation in their territory of special economic zones.

If they will develop the SEZ, the port will be very important and ofcourse infrastructure and etc. will be created (if it isn`t yet).

@mic of Orion
Almost everything is transit and everything may fall if things like this ^^ will happen :|

http://www.portoftallinn.ee/images/graphs/export.gif
http://www.portoftallinn.ee/images/graphs/import.gif
http://www.portoftallinn.ee/images/graphs/transit.gif

Five ferries will be servicing line Riga - Stockholm next year...
Local company "Rigas juras linija" will continue using two ferries - "Baltic Kristina" and "Gute" and they will buy one more.
Estonian "Tallink" will start on this line with one ferry in 10th January 2006 and one more - in spring 2006.

This is a bit weird... because now the two ferries between both cities are half empty. Let's see how the things will develop.

Btw. it seems that "Tallink" will acquire Finnish "Silja Line".

Maybe "Tallink" will raise this route, so "Rigas juras linija" don`t want to be left behind and modernizes it`s ferries as well. I think you will agree that Riga - Stockholm may be a very big route ;)


A new sea bridge to Baltijsk
05 09 13

Klaipeda – Baltijsk is a new regular cargo and pax itinerary Lithuania and Kaliningrad region for the first time in maritime history.
The ferry boat of the company “Lisco Baltic Service” “Lisco Patria”, operating in this new line, leaves Klaipeda on Saturday noon and comes to the port of Baltijsk approximately in seven hours. On Sunday morning it comes back to Klaipeda and then starts for the Seaport of Karlshamn in Sweden.
But the new ferry line should be attractive not only for passengers, but for cargo carriers from Russia and Scandinavian countries as well.
One of the best ferry boats “Lisco Patria” going to Baltijsk can carry at one tine 250 passengers and 95 trucks with semi trailers.

Gatis, Tallink buying Silja Line is very very speculative, Tallink is the only company powerful enough in the nordic area to buy Silja line, but its not very likely atm, that was just proposed by a finnish nautical professor:). Great news for Estonia anyway ;)

Tallink will surely send old ships from the line Tallinn-Helsinki to the second-class line Riga-Stockholm :laugh:
You know, i would better buy some cheap plane ticket to Stockholm via internet.

ACTIVITIES OF KLAIPEDA AND NEIGHBOURING PORTS IN JANUARY-AUGUST, 2005

Container handling
Ports -----------------2004----------------- 1-8 2005 -------- 1-8 2005/2004, % (+,-)
Tallinn ----------------- 74 124 ------------ 81 187 ------------------- 9,5
Riga -------------------106 223 ------------106 764 ------------------ 0,5
Venspils ---------------292 ------------------ 992 -----------------------3,4 t.
Klaipėda -------------106 801 ------------140 568 ------------------- 32

Cargo handling
Ports ----------------- 2004 ---------------- 1-8 2005 --------- 1-8 2005/2004, % (+,-)
Tallinn -------------- 25 504,6 -------------- 26 348,8 ------------------ 3,3
Ventspils ----------- 19 457,0 -------------- 20 109,0 ----------------- 3,4
Riga ------------------ 16 008,8 -------------- 16 389,6 ----------------- 2,4
Klaipėda ------------- 13 440,3 ------------- 13 907,4 ----------------- 3,5

During January – August, 2005 26.3 million tons were handled in the port of Tallinn, i.e. by 3.3 % more than in respective period in 2004. The increase was due to the handling of bulk (up to 4.7 million tons, i.e. by 22 % more than last year) and liquid cargo (up to 18.0 million tons, i.e. by 1.7 % more). Although Ro-ro cargo increased by 7.7 %, however handling of general cargo decreased by 36.6 % (from 1315.3 thousand tons in 2004 up to 833.7 thousand tons in 2005).

During January – August, 2005 the port of Ventspils handled 20.1 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 3.4 % more than in respective period last year. According to cargo types handling of liquid cargo decreased by 2 % (12.4 this year, 12.7 – last year), handling of general cargo decreased as well by 25 % (0.5 million tons and 0.7 million tons respectively). Handling of dry and bulk cargo increased by 17 %. Handling of crude oil this year decreased from 1.8 million tons (2004) up to 0.2 million tons (2005). Ro-ro handling decreased up to 154 thousand tons (by – 43 %). Handling of oil products increased by 14 % up to 11.7 million tons, handling of fertilizers increased as well by 12 % up to 3.6 million tons. The highest growth was recorded in handling of coal, up to 3.1 million tons, .i.e. by 26 % more than last year.

During January – August, 2005 the port of Riga handled 16.4 million tons of cargo, i.e. by 2.4 % more than last year. More than 43 % of the total turnover comprises coal, the handling of which increased by 14.9 %, i.e. up to 7.1 million tons. Handling of fertilizers (bulk) increased as well by 7.5 % up to 973 thousand tons, Ro-ro cargo increased by + 43.6 % up to 498 thousand tons. 106 764 TEU containers were handled, i.e. by 1 % more than last year. Handling of timber decreased (by 11.8 %, up to 2.7 million tons), as well as of oil products (by – 24.0 %, up to 2.2 million tons).

Tallink will surely send old ships from the line Tallinn-Helsinki to the second-class line Riga-Stockholm :laugh:
You know, i would better buy some cheap plane ticket to Stockholm via internet.

Personally, I would use plane as well, but if you look at the two sea routes Tallinn-Helsinki and Stockholm-Riga - they are quite different from each other. Think of the distance and demand. I don't think Tallink could use the same type of ferries for Riga-Stockhol as for Tallinn-Helsinki...At least not the first time. Maybe when the line becomes more popular, it could be an option.

Krovinių Terminalas getting ready for opening
2005.09.20


Krovinių Terminalas UAB, the operator of deepwater berth No 3 at Klaipėda State Seaport, is completing construction of an oil and chemical terminal. Pilot shipments of light oil products will be loaded already in Q4 of this year. The terminal is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of the year.

The terminal is expected to bring benefit to the city as well: the terminal alone will create up to 100 new jobs, boosting the port's volume of cargo handling.

Investment of Krovinių Terminalas UAB in construction of the new oil and chemical terminal has totalled about LTL 110m, being the largest private investment in Klaipėda port.

More than 25 percent of this investment have gone into security technologies, environmental protection and fire prevention measures. A EUR 1m modern vapour recovery unit of John Zink Company has been installed, which allows collecting and condensing vapour emitted from ships during the loading process.

"Our plans are long-term, therefore we have invested into reliable equipment and hope the terminal to bring benefit to both us and the port after the launch," said Audrius Pauža, general manager of the company.

The terminal has a special fire prevention mobile unit, an automatic fire extinguishing system, and fast shut-off valves used in loading ships. The whole terminal boasts up-to-date technology systems.

The oil and chemical terminal is designed to receive, store and load onto tankers oil products, chemicals and petrochemicals delivered by sea and rail.

The terminal's annual capacity makes up 2m tonnes. With construction started in the summer of 2004, the terminal will be completed and commissioned at the end of this year.

The length and depth of the berth operated by Krovinių Terminalas make up 250 m and 14 m respectively. The berth can accommodate ships with the tonnage of 60,000-65,000 t.

Personally, I would use plane as well, but if you look at the two sea routes Tallinn-Helsinki and Stockholm-Riga - they are quite different from each other. Think of the distance and demand. I don't think Tallink could use the same type of ferries for Riga-Stockhol as for Tallinn-Helsinki...At least not the first time. Maybe when the line becomes more popular, it could be an option.

what do you mean? The ships that are on route Tallinn Helsinki are huge ones ;), and theres a number of smaller ones, which Tallink is replacing soon with other HUGe ships, which, are very fast too! :D

Or maybe Tallink will place it's bigger ships - Romantika and Victoria - to Tallinn-Stockholm route (?). The new very big and modern ferry will operate between Helsinki and Tallinn, and Fantaasia & Regina Baltica will find their places between Riga and Stockholm.

Btw. it seems that "Tallink" will acquire Finnish "Silja Line".

No, hell no! This can't be true! Or what this means excatly? Silja Line has been very strong for long time, so it would be absurd if there will happen something radical.

I'm not sure if there has been something about this in this thread before, but anyway:

Estonia: New cargo ferry to Paldiski-Kapellskär route
19.05.2005 esmerk uutispalvelu
Eesti Päevaleht, 19 May 2005

The Estonian ferry operator, Baltic Scandinavian Lines (BSL), plans to open a ro-pax ferry route between Estonia's port of Paldiski and Sweden's Kapellskär in summer 2005. Mr Margo Heinla, member of BSL's board, says the new ferry will mainly serve small cargo carriers. BSL will buy the ferry, which has room for 44 trucks and can carry 64 passengers.

Members of BSL's supervisory council include Mr Tarmo Rooteman, Mr Olev-Mait Makk, and Mr Heiti Hääl. Mr Rooteman and Mr Makk are partners of United Partners, which offers business development consultation in the Baltic States and the CIS. Mr Hääl is co-owner of the local fuel trader, Alexela Oil.

BSL's new ferry would compete with Estonia's leading shipping company, Tallink, which has two ferries plying on the same route. Mr Kalev Järvelill, member of Tallink's board, says others have tried to enter the Paldiski-Kapellskär route before, but have all had to give way to Tallink. He says freight transports to Sweden have dropped since Estonia joined the EU, and the market is contracting.

Mr Erik Sakkov, marketing director of the state-owned port operator, Tallinna Sadam, welcomes the competition, and believes the new line will bring down prices and raise the quality of services. He says the port of Paldiski's cargo turnover has increased steadily. Tallinna Sadam expects that the port's cargo turnover will reach around 3.2mn tons in 2005.

© Esmerk

/\ no the upper news isnt connected with it!

Silja and Tallink affair is a lobbystory at the moment, but there is a possibily Tallink will really buy Silja lina :)

RigaLink - new name in passenger ferry business
Daughter company of Tallink working in Riga would be called RigaLink. Their initial purpose - to secure direct ferry traffic from Riga to Stockholm.

VikingLine has expressed interest in opening ferry line between Stockholm and Riga as well. Let's see.

The joint-stock company "Rigas juras linija" (RJL), that operated regular ferry traffic between Riga and Stockholm, suspended operations last Saturday, the ferry "Baltic Kristina" halted trips on the route as of Saturday, October 15. Last passengers were forced to look for other means of transportation (air travel Riga-Stockholm Skavsta; Riga-Stockholm hub Arlanda or Estonian ferries).

^^ What was the reason for this suspention?

^^ What was the reason for this suspention?
Sucky politics of Riga Seaport ;)

^^ Really? What exact are we talking about? ;)

Riga Seaport: Passengers? Money? Thanks, no... We don't have time for this, we are occupied with damaging the business in Riga City

Tallink has ordered 3 ships from finnis naval yard:
1. One of the five biggest ferries in the world:
http://www.akerfinnyards.com/imagebank/mr/nb_435_tallink_72dpi.jpg

and 2 medium size ships (1800 passengers), they will be new generation, and ULTRa fast, will cross Tallinn - Helsinki in less then 1.40h!
http://www.akerfinnyards.com/imagebank/hr/tallink_ferry_hr.gif

edit; they ordered these some time ago, the big one will enter service spring 2006

nice boat :clown:

Estonia is becoming the leader in maritime in SB and on the whole Baltic sea...

Tallink is expanding fleet...
Silja Line is selling (prolly to Tallink)
and Viking line will register its ships under the Estonian flag :)

Sweet!

Riga Seaport: Passengers? Money? Thanks, no... We don't have time for this, we are occupied with damaging the business in Riga City

You must have felt quite bitter when you wrote that, Gatis. :(

If this is indeed the case (and Maris seems to think so, too), I would be most disappointed. In so many other aspects Riga deals admirably with its assets and resources ... how can the authorities be so blind about the harbor? :bash:

Authorities who are not blind and try to do something about Riga harbour, ruin their political career. But let's see, may be this fortress starts crumbling.
And glad about success of Estonians... and a pitty that we lost that much time.

That's a shame, Gatis, and I hope things will change soon ... not that I begrudge the Estonians their current advantage.

But there is Ventspils harbour, which is more successful. Today announced new project there:

Lithuanian "Girteka" will start consturction of new terminal for transportation of frozen food through Ventspils. Investment - 20 mio EUR, capacity - 1 mio tons per year.
Some weeks ago large grain terminal started work there, soon will start working new coal terminal and juice concentrates terminal. Thus Ventspils would still be one of the largest harbours in Baltic.

Yes, it seems that Ventspils actually hasn't died after russian oil stopped coming in. Because the oil transit from Russia was pretty much the only thing whicht made Ventspils one of the largest ports of the Baltic sea. Now the oil transit stopped, Ventspils seems has swiched pretty well to other goods. I'm really glad about this.

Interesting, coz i haven`t heard anything about that in the lithuanian news :sly:

Latest statistics from Latvian harbours:

In nine months of this year Latvian harbours have serviced 44,9 mio tons. This is 1,7% more than last year. This might sound little change... but transfer of crude oil quickly decreases (5,7 times less than last year) - and this means that our harbours have managed to shift to other kinds of cargo.

Ventspils in nine months this year = 22,3 mio tons (+ 2%)
Riga = 18,3 (+ 1,7%)
Liepaja = 3,4 (- 1,6%)
small harbours = 0,9 mio (+ 6,1%)

Cargo handling in Klaipėda port in September

05 10 06

1.9 million tons of cargos were handled in the port of Klaipeda in this September, i.e. by 20.7 more in comparison with the same period last year.

In total 15.85 million tons of cargoes were handled during nine months this year, i.e. by 5.5 more in comparison with the same period in 2004.

During nine months this year volumes of all the types of cargo increased, except liquid ones. The decrease is by 8 % (5.2 million tons this year, 5.7 million tons – last year).

During January – September 156 757 TEU containers were handled. Volumes of container throughput in comparison with last year numbers increased by 27 %.

Handling of fertilizers increased by 25 %, i.e. up to 3.2 million tons. While comparing last year and this year cargo handling of the same period, handling of liquid fertilizers increased by 22 %, bulk fertilizers – by 24 % and packed – by 52 %.

During nine months this year handling of grain increased almost 5-fold (up to 412.8 thousand tons), handling of iron and steel products – almost doubled (up to 344.6 thousand tons), handling of perishable products made up to 335.1 thousand tons.




Kursiu Linija expands into Russia and Latvia

Lithuanian liner operator Kursiu Linija is expanding its dedicated office network by opening up in Riga, Latvia and St Petersburg, Russia. The move follows the establishment of its own office network in the UK, Holland and Germany earlier this year, and is necessary to service the strong growth in the line's traffic. Kursiu Linija new Kaliningrad-Klaipeda-St Petersburg service, started in July 2005, has been a major boost to the company's cargo flow.

"We have already moved more cargo in the first three quarters of 2005 than we did the whole of last year," says Arijus Ramonas, managing director of Kursiu Linija. "We will ship over 135,000TEU by the end of the year, which is 47 per cent up on 2005. The key to this growth has been our investment in high-cube 45ft pallet-wide containers which allow us to compete directly with overland routes and take trucks off the crowded roads of Northern Europe."

Setting up Kursiu Linija's own offices in St Petersburg and Riga during November 2005 follows the opening in July 2005 of a network of dedicated Kursiu Linija offices Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam (Holland) and Felixtowe (UK).

"Having our own offices improves the service we can offer clients and allows us to invest in better IT systems which will smooth and track traffic flows," explains Arijus Ramonas. "We had been using independent agents for ten years, but now we need to manage our own customer contacts. We were fortunate that most of the experienced agency staff chose to come to work directly for us, so maintaining continuity for our clients."

Long time since the last update ;)

Some news:

"KLASCO" sold it`s container terminal to "KTG", which is the leader in container candling in Klaipeda. The price is unknown, but it may be something like 70mln. euros.
When "KTG" will connect the two terminals, it will be able to handle up to 300,000 containers a year.

"Smelte" is also not far from finishing it`s terminal. Cranes are already assembled.
The terminal will also be able to handle up to 300,000 containers a year. ;)

Rendering of the deep sea port:
http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/8740/gu7pc.jpg

"KVJUD" will invest about 450mln. euros in to the port in the next 8 years.

Construction of the new passenger and cargo terminal should start in 2008, it will cost about 40mln. euros.

The Port of Klaipeda handled almost 22mln. tones of cargo in 2005, it`s a 7% increase from 2004 and the biggest amount of cargo handled ever ;)

Great news indeed ;)

What is the amount of cargo handled in Tallinn, Ventspils and Riga ports?

We should wait some time till the official results will be announced ;)

in 2005 ... I only have 11 month stats from Tallinn port and it was 35,921 mio tons

In Ventspils in 2005 there were handled 29,9 mio tons of cargo. +2,1 mio comparing to the last year - but still far to the historical maximum.

Statistics about Riga port will come in few days. In 9 months of 2005 it was 18,3 mio tons (+1,7%)

Finals for Latvia, year 2005:

1. Ventspils = 29,9 mio tons (+7,3% comparing to the last year)
2. Riga = 24,4 mio tons (+1,8%)
3. Liepaja = 4,5 mio tons (+0,8%)
There are nine smaller harbours too
Thus Latvia in total gets some 60 mio tons. These are not easy times for our harbours - Russia diverts all cargo to their own harbours.

^^ How much of those 60 mio is Latvian origin?

This thread was forgotten a bit.

So here`s the 2006 results:

Containers - TEU

Port, 2005, 2006, 2005/2006 change

Tallinn
127 585
152 399
19,4

Riga
168 978
176 826
4,6

Ventspils
2 259
14 241
6,3 times

Klaipėda
214 307
231 548
8,0



Cargo,th. t.

Tallinn
39 527,8
41 289,0
4,5

Ventspils
29 862,0
29 062,0
-2,7

Riga
24 429,1
25 357,6
3,8

Klaipėda
21 794,0
23 547,4
8,0

Liepaja
4 508,5
4 000,9
-11,3

Latvian ports give up :( except Riga. Especially sad is situation with Liepaja - some years ago everybody expected that Liepaja will manage much much better.

Tallinn has done wonders over the last years.

http://g.delfi.lt/images/pix/file10176675_uostas.JPG
Picture: ©www.DELFI.lt

Klaipeda, LT port results for Q1 2007:
6,32 mln. tons of cargo. This is a 12,6% increase over same period a year ago. 56% increase of transit cargo delivered by rail.

Passenger numbers increased 25,2% over same period in 2006.
:okay:
Source: www.DELFI.lt

Latvian ports give up :( except Riga. Especially sad is situation with Liepaja - some years ago everybody expected that Liepaja will manage much much better.


I have impression that ports are very unstable bussines - the customers of the ports can switch from one port to another one too easy, sol they are actually competeing all the time. Look russians did not want to export oil through Ventspils? One day and they did it somewhere else, it means one day and they can come back and same is for Liepaja. Good results now, don't mean good results tommorow. And vice versa.

And advantages of Latvian ports stay same - Ice free and linked with the potential customers in the east by good infrastructure.

Your forgeting that with Russia it's not only buisiness... Stopping oil flow to Ventspils was very much a political decision and i doubt that russians will change their attitude to us (Baltic states) anytime soon...

Luckily though, Klaipeda has Kaliningrad transit card to play with and gets a nice share of Russian cargo, deals signed also for future bigger part of Belarussian exports, and ofcourse, steady growing local industrial giants like "Indorama", "Achema", "Lifosa" and others

Even if we don't care about Russian cargo, we can't get it from China or Kazakhstan - just because Russia is in middle. Currently Baltic ports have desperate competition about peanuts compared with the amounts we could get if Russia would be "open".

Gatis, don't be so pessimistic.. if it's profitable for China to export its goods thru Baltics, Russia won't stop it, because chinese have a lot of tools to press Russia to allow the transit.. we just have to work more on improving infrastructure

Your forgeting that with Russia it's not only buisiness... Stopping oil flow to Ventspils was very much a political decision and i doubt that russians will change their attitude to us (Baltic states) anytime soon

Don't be so sure about the attitude. All they want is the pipeline and terminals in Ventspils and prorussian goverment and all of this is not as impossible as it seems. Look you almost had prorussian goverment with this russian who financed your president who was impeached. Don't remember his name. Russia is getting stronger and stronger and with closing of Ignalina we are becoming as rest of Europe more and more depending on Russian energy. At the same time Russia is drowning deeper adn deeper in authoritarianism.Bad combination for us - I htink Latvia will be first one to be hit

Gatis, don't be so pessimistic.. if it's profitable for China to export its goods thru Baltics, Russia won't stop it, because chinese have a lot of tools to press Russia to allow the transit.. we just have to work more on improving infrastructure

What about Russia beeing in WTO? When they join, aren't they obliged to facilitate transit through russia?

I dont understand what you are talking about! Many Russian companies and importers (into Russia) use Baltic ports to export/import goods. There are no barriers for goods from Russia or transit through Russia and then to Baltic ports, but Finnland is winning a large chunk of the transit flow to/from China. The whole region is very competitive when it comes to ports - Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Finnish all fighting to process local/Russian/Belarussian/transit goods for export/import. The small size of your countries has enabled you to be much more competitive compared to Russian ports in the area (e.g. special economic zones). The only disadvantage is duty paid on the Russian border as this can obviously make import/export through the Baltic countries less competitive. Unfortunately (for you guys) the added value from processing has been falling in the last few years with Baltic ports loosing to competition mainly from Finnland and St Petersburg area ports. Another important player that will soon have to be considered in the region is the huge port project under construction in Ust'-Luga which is going to be very modern and will most likely get a special port zone status!

golov, your arguments are pretty locigal, but only in that case, if you put aside political issues; you have to live in Baltics to understand, what is going on here with russian transit.. The guys with influence in Kremlin want the infrastructure, and it is proven now in LV, when Lembergs is in jail, Ventspils Nafta and other transit companies are being sold or restructured in favor of russian business.. and when it's done, there will be an advantageous "added value" once again.. pure magic

but about chinese transit - i think the project has future, especially, if Rail Baltica will be built, and the goods could be sent by rail/sea to the rest of the Europe.. and yes, if Russia joins WTO, it will be hard for it to lay obstacles, expecially for China, its strategic partner

Ust'-Luga will totally dominate Russian import/export through the Baltic and possibly CIS and Asian transit because most private companies would not want to pay duty fees when there is a huge and efficient port in Russian Baltic (even when we join the WTO) and its obvious which port goverment controlled companies will choose. However I am not sure about winter because the bay were the port is being build ices for a few months, they can probably use icebreakers though.

Here is a rough list of the port's facilities in the first stage of construction:

Coal terminal - 8mln tons (this will hit Talinn coal transit hard)
Timber processing terminal - 1.1mln tons
Fertiliser terminal - 2mln tons (this will be a major challenge for Latvian and Lithuanian ports, but Belarussian fertiliser export will still probably go though them)
Oil terminal - 5.5mln tons
Oil terminal 2 - 2mln tons
General cargo - 4.5mln tons
Container terminal - 500 000 TEU with increase to 1mln TEU and then 6mln TEU (becomming essentially the biggest in the Baltic)
Ferry terminal - 2.3mln tons
Grain terminal - 2.2mln tons
Refrigerated cargo terminal - 0.6mln tons

Ust'-Luga will totally dominate Russian import/export through the Baltic and possibly CIS and Asian transit because most private companies would not want to pay duty fees when there is a huge and efficient port in Russian Baltic (even when we join the WTO) and its obvious which port goverment controlled companies will choose. However I am not sure about winter because the bay were the port is being build ices for a few months, they can probably use icebreakers though.


The bigges advantage of Latvian ports against russian, finnish and estonian ports are that we are ice free through out the year with Ventspils beeing the furthest to north ice free port, although with global warming that is becoming less and less exclusive feature. Until recently to be ice free was very important and gave big advantage, don't know is it really that important.

^^ Precisely, I read that Ust'-Luga port stays completely ice-free approximately 2 years out of five. When it does ice, it happens in January/February, so its not such a big problem. Also, couldnt they just use icebreakers?

@golov, I've heard and read in news that f.e. export from Kazakhstan isn't more intense because of the barriers set up by Russia. But it happens that our authorities and businessman justify their own misdoings by Russian factor - thus I am not perfectly sure if this is a real or imaginary problem.

Ventspils Free port today gave preliminary permit for Chinese plans to build 3 billion dollars worth liquid gas factory in port area. Land has been reserved for this project - in middle of May Chinese will visit Ventspils for further talks. Let's see if this will be realised - sounds interesting.

golov, if Russia joins WTO, I'm not sure if it will be allowed to set extra customs fees on the borders, so it won't be a decisive argument for the shipping company, where exactly the port is situated.. using icebreakers is costly, but as it was mentioned before, we have less and less cold winters in the region, so, imho, 3 main criteria for attractiveness of any port in the region will dominate - cost of service, quality of service and comfortable and efficient infrastructure.. I'm sure, due to specific mentality, russian companies "v dobrovoljno prinuditeljnom porjadke" :) will use Ust' Luga/Primorsk/St.Petersburg or whatever you have there, but for chinese transit goods it won't matter, if it's russian or estonian port, as long as it's the most attractive in terms mentioned above.. and it seems, that Ventspils transit companies will be definately sold to russians (or russians will be a kind of strategic investors), and in that case Ventspils will get its share of russian transit

I dont think the WTO can affect existing customs fees, but I dont know too much about that. There is no reason to be bitter at the Russians for being protective of their own ports, the customs fees are not specific to the Baltic states and apply to other countries exactly the same, so you cannot talk about discrimination. Government owned companies prefer (but do no always) to use domestic ports because this is in the interest of their main shareholder - the Russian Federation. I am sure there will be enough traffic for everyone, the question is who gets the high added value goods like containers and who gets coal. Western, Russian, Chinese and CIS companies will use the ports that make the most economic sense and I think this is great because competition will only improve the efficiency for everyone.

There is the occasional bit of nasty politics on both sides(pipeline repair for example), but hey, who cancelled politicians being pricks? :)

Klaipeda

Cargo (mln.t.):

Liquid - 9,039 289 +10,8%
Bulk/dry bulk - 8,932 570 +19,1%
general cargo - 9,374 448 +17,8%

Total - 27,346.308 +15,8%


Containers

TEU - 321 432 +38,8%


Other

Ro-ro cargo units - 217 515 +7%

Ships served - 7 952 +3,4%

Passengers - 285 216 +18,7%

...............................................................................................

Butinge terminal (oil) (mln.t.)

4,576 627 -22,3% (reason - Mazeikiu Nafta (http://www.nafta.lt/en/) beeing closed for repairs)

haha klaipeda 321 432 TEU?
Phase I of muuga container facility is 1 mio TEU! KHUUL!

haha klaipeda 321 432 TEU?
Phase I of muuga container facility is 1 mio TEU! KHUUL!

Well, good for you ch1le!

And here`s the real numbers:


Containers - TEU

2007.1-3/2008.1-3/%

Klaipėda
71 381
86 784
21,6

Ryga
47 029
48 234
2,6

Talinas
39 744
40 835
2,7

Ventspilis
3 768
4 104
8,9

And cargo:

Ventspilis
7 816,0
8 356,0
6,9

Talinas
11 567,0
8 141,1
-29,6

Klaipėda
6 375,5
7 887,9
23,7

Ryga
5 810,3
6 998,5
20,4

Liepoja
1 002,3
2 385,0
238,0

It looks like Klaipeda may become the most cargo handling port in the Baltics, by the end of the year ;)

A long forgotten thread that needs some reviving news:

Estonian Tallink and Lithuanian Lisco got some new additions to their fleet this past week. Both ferry companies differ in the type of customers they mostly serve, hence - the different types of ships.

Lisco Maxima (not related to the shops) will serve Klaipeda-Kiel line. In the picture you can see the ship in Gibraltar, on it's way to Klaipeda from Italy, where it was built.
http://www.gibraltarport.com/gallery1024/Lisco%20Maxima%20(5).JPG

http://www.gibraltarport.com/gallery1024/Lisco%20Maxima%20(3).JPG


Tallink Baltic queen, which will serve the Tallinn-Stockholm line
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Baltic_Queen_Tallinn_2009-04-23.JPG/800px-Baltic_Queen_Tallinn_2009-04-23.JPG

It's sister ship Baltic princess was delivered to Tallink late last year and currently serves the Helsinki-Tallinn route
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Baltic_Princess_leaving_Tallinn.JPG

Ventspils wants to maintain a ship route connection with Kuressaare

The Latvian city of Ventspils wants to launch the ship route Kuressaare-Ventspils to replace the ship traffic on the route Mõntu-Ventspils that was not launched this season, writes Oma Saar.

The Ventspils City Council turned to the City of Kuressaare, emphasising the importance of a transport link between the two cities on the field of tourism and referring to the need to find additional resources for restoring the ship route in order to guarantee economic efficiency, informs LETA.

Ventspils proposed asking for support from the Latvian-Estonian cross-border co-operation programme for launching the ship route link.

Press spokesman of the Kuressaare City Government Priit Pruul stated that Kuressaare is fully prepared to help out in such a project and is planning to request help from competent officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for changing the terms of the CBC programme.

Pruul noted that the Kuressaare City Government is hoping to sit behind a negotiations table with the authorities of Ventspils in near future in order to discuss the matters.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/files/multi/2009-04/090427_Kuressaare_ventspils.jpg


Riga port plans to serve 90 cruise ships in 2009

The Riga port plans to serve 90 cruise ships in 2009, said the port's spokeswoman Anita Leiskalne.

"At present arrival of 85 cruise ships has been announced and confirmed, and arrival of five cruise ships has been announced, but not yet confirmed," said BNS Leiskalne, adding that it is slightly more than in the previous years – in 2007 the Riga port served 88 cruise ships and slightly less in 2008.

"The ships confirmed this year represent new companies and also those who have been to Riga in the previous years," she said, adding that last year a Japanese cruise ship arrived in Riga for the first time, and this year another Japanese ship will visit Riga again.

Leiskalne said that increase of Japanese tourist activity is a new trend.

Leiskalne said that the maximum number of tourists arriving to Latvia on cruise ships this year might be 82,500. "But we think that in fact there might be 60,000-65,000 people as not always all ships are full," she said.

In 2008, Riga port served 503,174 ship passengers at a 13.9% rise from 2007, including 100,253 cruise ship passengers, down 23.4% from 2007, including 50,176 arriving passengers and 50,077 departing passengers.

Riga is the largest Latvian port both by passenger numbers and cargo turnover.

Riga is the largest Latvian port both by passenger numbers and cargo turnover.

Vow, since when Riga is larger than Ventspils by cargo turnover? I remember, in 90ies, Ventspils was second largest cargo port in Europe after Roterdam! And now it's second in Latvia.. What a bad "career" :ohno:

A long forgotten thread that needs some reviving news:

Estonian Tallink and Lithuanian Lisco got some new additions to their fleet this past week. Both ferry companies differ in the type of customers they mostly serve, hence - the different types of ships.

Lisco Maxima (not related to the shops) will serve Klaipeda-Kiel line. In the picture you can see the ship in Gibraltar, on it's way to Klaipeda from Italy, where it was built.
http://www.gibraltarport.com/gallery1024/Lisco%20Maxima%20(3).JPG


Good idea to revive this thread, whatever! :okay: With the summer season upon us, what could be more pleasant than a sea voyage?

We took an overnight ferry trip from Kiel to Klaipeda with LISCO last year. Our ship was the "Gloria." Of course these ferries are primarily commercial and cargo ships: passengers are more of a coindicence. On our trip the hull was filled with a HUGE number of large, tall trucks, all expertly parked very tightly for maximum use of the available space. The Gloria was not a luxury cruise ship by any means. But the food was delicious, the personnel pleasant, our cabin nice and comfortable, and we surely didn't deplore the absence of indoor and outdoor pools or a minigolf facility. ;)

good to see this thread restrarted!! but why is it located in Icebar section, not in General Development?

Ventspils wants to maintain a ship route connection with Kuressaare

The Latvian city of Ventspils wants to launch the ship route Kuressaare-Ventspils to replace the ship traffic on the route Mõntu-Ventspils that was not launched this season, writes Oma Saar.

The Ventspils City Council turned to the City of Kuressaare, emphasising the importance of a transport link between the two cities on the field of tourism and referring to the need to find additional resources for restoring the ship route in order to guarantee economic efficiency, informs LETA.

Ventspils proposed asking for support from the Latvian-Estonian cross-border co-operation programme for launching the ship route link.

Press spokesman of the Kuressaare City Government Priit Pruul stated that Kuressaare is fully prepared to help out in such a project and is planning to request help from competent officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for changing the terms of the CBC programme.

Pruul noted that the Kuressaare City Government is hoping to sit behind a negotiations table with the authorities of Ventspils in near future in order to discuss the matters.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/files/multi/2009-04/090427_Kuressaare_ventspils.jpg



Thank you, ABC, that's good news! :) There ought to be smooth connections by land and sea between all three Baltic countries, and this is a step in the right direction. :yes:

Tallink Baltic queen, which will serve the Tallinn-Stockholm line
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Baltic_Queen_Tallinn_2009-04-23.JPG/800px-Baltic_Queen_Tallinn_2009-04-23.JPG
I really like that ship, nice colours and the right size. :) Although, the newer ships of Tallink all look a bit alike.

This year Klaipeda`s Sea Festival is taking place simultaneously with the Tall Ships finish, so it should be a breathtaking week.

The Tall Ships' Races Baltic 2009

The greatest event of the Millennium anniversary of Lithuania in the West of the country!

http://www.tallships.lt/images/turinys_galerija/s2_1223300125_alexander_vo.jpghttp://www.tallships.lt/images/turinys_galerija/s2_1227543656_dar_mlodziez.jpghttp://www.tallships.lt/images/turinys_galerija/s2_1225980280_christian_ra.jpg
http://www.tallships.lt/images/turinys_galerija/s2_1233843551_fryderyk_cho.jpghttp://www.tallships.lt/images/turinys_galerija/s2_1227543680_sedov.jpghttp://www.tallships.lt/images/turinys_galerija/s2_1227543668_mir.jpg

On 2-5 July 2009 the first stage of the Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009 is commencing in Gdynia (Poland), which is going to last six days. It expected that over hundred sailing ships are going to start in Gdynia and compete to the second the Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009 port in Saint Petersburg (Russia), which is welcoming the regatta on 11-14 of July. Non-competing 9 days sailing is getting across from Saint Petersburg to Turku port in Finland, where legendary sails will be enjoyed on 23-26 June and from that point the sailing ships will be ready for the final stage of the races from Turku to Klaipeda.


On July 31 – 3 August Klaipeda is going to be decorated by hundreds of sails. It is planned that 90-100 ships are coming to Klaipėda in 2009: about 20 sailing ships of A class, about 17 ones of B class, 50-60 ones of C and D classes. About 4,000 – 5,000 crews’ members are going to participate in this event.


Each port, accepting the participants of the Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009, is going to arrange welcoming and seeing-off festivals, their guests will be able to admire the parade of sailing ships leaving the port and sailing to sea. The major events of the regatta in Klaipėda is going to be the opening ceremony of the festival, visits onto the ships, the crews’ parade, the captains’ ball, the crews’ concerts, sport competitions, excursions, receptions on the ships. As the traditional Sea Festival is taking place simultaneously, both events are going to complement each other, making Klaipėda an actual cultural port of the country for four days. The event is going to be crowned a final port’s privilege – a unique Sails parade, which could be watched by thousands of local people and guests on sound-recorded port berths, town beaches in Melnragė and Smiltynė. Our country’s President is going to watch salutes from the legendary sailing ships of the Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009, standing on deck of a military naval vessel of the Republic of Lithuania.



During the visit of the Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009 all the towns are attempting to show all the best they have. This regatta is an extraordinary event to Lithuania: for the first time in the millennium history of our country so many sailing ships with foreign flags are going to visit Klaipeda Seaport simultaneously. This supreme event will serve as a good occasion to our country’s citizens understanding that Lithuania is not only the Maritime State engaged in cargo handling, but the port’s activities are also related to sailing ships. The values of the Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009 regatta is going to spread around the world through Klaipėda Seaport gates, opening new ways to our country’s youth, sailing fans and peoples’ friendship

Seeing one Tall Ship is a lovely experience for sure. Having the opportunity to watch many of them together must be glorious!

I envy you, ShuMi. :cool:

http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll12.jpg
...port of tallinn...
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll11.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll10.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll9.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll8.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll7.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll6.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll4.jpg
Galaxy is best looking beauty. After finnish Silja Line was buyed, they put the personal favour to the Stockholm-Helsinki line.
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll5.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll3.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll2.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/setusitalill//tll1.jpg

Howcome the seaports thread is in Icebar and the airports thread is in General developement? Their equal in my eyes and they bot deserve the same attention (read: to be in general dev.)

Turnover of Latvian ports in the first half = first six months of 2009:
- total turnover - 32,3 mio tons (slightly more than last year). Have been shipped 30,2 mio tons (+3,2%) and received 2,1 mio tons (-29,2%).
- Ventspils port served 14,8 mio tons (-0,7%)
- Riga port served 14,8 mio tons (+3%)
- Liepaja port served 2,1 mio tons (-8,1%)

Riga passenger port served 291 300 passengers (+59,7%)
Ventspils passenger port served 6 100 passengers
Liepaja passenger port served 8 000 passengers.

That's brilliant for such critical situation! Thanks for sharing that, Gatis!

Update: "The Tall Ships' Races Baltic 2009"

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75346&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75350&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75354&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75343&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75342&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75341&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75345&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75347&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75344&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75355&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75351&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75349&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75356&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=75352&s=3&f=4

Riga port is the only in Latvia which announces increase in this year - in 10 months of 2009 Riga has served 24,95 mio tons, what is per 2,7% more than in 10 months of last year.
The biggest increase - liquid cargo (5,5 mio tons, +27%, most of it - oil). Biggest decrease - construction materials -57,9% (surprise, surprise).

In Latvian ports in 10 months served 47,1 mio tons of cargo - per 0,9% less than last year.
In Estonian ports - 28,5 mio tons, per 4,5% less.
In Lithuanian ports - 26,6 mio tons, per 11,6% less.

^^ We do have only one port you know. :)

Butinge does not count separately?

Correction - Latvian seaports in 10 months of this year have served 52.3 mio tons of cargo.
Largest ports:
Riga - 25.0 mio t
Ventspils - 22,7 mio t
Liepaja - 3,6 mio t
Skulte - 0,4 mio t

"Silja Europa" to be repaired in Riga

The passenger vessel "Silja Europa" was sent to the Riga Shipyard to be repaired on Thursday morning, writes EPL Online/LETA.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/files/multi/2009-11/091126_Silja_Europa.jpg

Divers completed preparing the vessel for the trip to Riga and the Finnish Maritime Administration granted permission for taking the vessel to Riga.

Tallink Group announced that "Silja Europa" would be sent to the Riga Shipyard as the shipyards closer to Turku had no available docks for the next week.

The vessel should reach Riga at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday. It has not yet been determined how long will the repair works last.

The "Silja Europa" appeared to have technical problems in the steering system on Sunday afternoon when the vessel was on its way from Stockholm to Turku. Passengers or the ship were not at risk.

Around 20th November started dredging in Liepaja Port - it's depth will be increased from 11 to 12,5 metres. Previously it was made deeper in 1999 - from 9,5 to 11 metres. Costs - 32 mio EUR, works to be completed in early 2011.

This thread deserves to be taken over by Tallinn,just as Baltic Airports thread is taken over by Riga :D

Port Of Tallinn has released some statistics. First this year nine months net profit - 406 million kroons (26 million euros),increase comparing to last year,same period: +15%.

Cargo The cargo volume passing through the harbours of Port of Tallinn increased by 1,5 million tonnes (ca +7%), reaching 23.3 million tonnes. According to statistics,it makes Port Of Tallinn third largest port on eastern coast of Baltic Sea. (on decreasing order - Primorsk,St. Petersburg,Tallinn,Riga,Ventspils and Klaipeda)

Passengers In the first nine months the number of passengers traveling through Port of Tallinn - 5.7 million.
As cruise ship season has ended,seasons results have also arrived. Number of cruise ship passengers - 416 000 (+10% increase),number of visiting cruise ships - 310. Most active month was July with 114 537 passengers and 80 ships.

:cheers:

A "small" :D example of ships that visited Port Of Tallinn this summer (taken near cruise ship quay)

MS Queen Victoria
http://i47.tinypic.com/2qtwhgm.jpg

MS Emerald Princess
http://i46.tinypic.com/28i8fv6.jpg

MS AIDAluna
http://i49.tinypic.com/e15lhx.jpg

MS Celebrity Century
http://i47.tinypic.com/mvqp91.jpg

..and of course,early summer we got British Navy visit,aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (second time in Tallinn)
http://i45.tinypic.com/23h0ego.jpg

This thread deserves to be taken over by Tallinn,just as Baltic Airports thread is taken over by Riga

Regarding passenger transport - hands down, Tallinn wins with all the whistles and bells.
Riga has served only some 0,6 millions (40 - 50 % increase though) and that's also done by Estonians - "Tallink".

Regarding other port development - I beg to differ. Riga in 10 months has served 25,0 mio tons - a bit more than Tallinn. After long years of limited success Riga Port is having Napoleonic plans regarding investments and so far it goes extremely well.

...After long years of limited success Riga Port is having Napoleonic plans regarding investments and so far it goes extremely well...

Well,it would be nice to see Riga port development,but as you mentioned those are plans. Any real progress?

Btw,Port of Tallinn,also has several plans in store (building second cruise ship quay,extending Muuga and Paldiski ports etc) For those plans,port took a 40 million euro loan this year from European Investment Bank.

Muuga port's extension plans animation,from current situation to situation in 2011. Extension plan covers huge range of projects - from access roads,railways to quays,wave breakers & industrial parks.
http://www.portoftallinn.com/_up/image/muuga/muuga_animatsioon.gif

I guess this fits here also (does not have anything to do with Port Of Tallinn though) From Tallinn Development thread :
Hundipea port (located on Kopli peninsula) gets reconstructed by Inseneriehituse AS,GT Projekt and Lindrem. Project cost is 68 million kroon's. Estimated deadline - 22th jan 2011. Hundipea is Veeteede Amet / Estonian Maritime Administration main port,planned reconstruction will add new quay's for ice-breakers and deepens the port's waterways.

Current look:
http://www.taevapiltnik.ee/static/body/pildid/pilt_1103.jpg

The project (click to enlarge) :
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6179/clipboard01yl.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/clipboard01yl.jpg/)

Regarding passenger transport - hands down, Tallinn wins with all the whistles and bells.
Riga has served only some 0,6 millions (40 - 50 % increase though) and that's also done by Estonians - "Tallink".


After canceling visas for cruise ships passengers and constructing new passenger port, St.Petersburg passenger turnover grew dramatically in recent years and it still has plenty of room for fast growth in future (whereas Tallinn will not grow so fast)

But most cruise ships visit multiple ports :?? So called Northern European cruise (starting point in Western Europe - Stockholm - Helsinki - Tallinn - St.Petersburg) is very popular. i.e. same ships going to St.Petersburg,come to Tallinn also.

Interesting fact - Baltic Sea is world's fastest growing cruise ship market.

Direct routes are also possible, at least Helsinki-St.Petersburg. Potentially, 4,5 mln city has good chances to improve sea passenger traffic

Batka's tractors to Chavez :D (from Belarusia to Venezuela)

http://www.marine-marchande.net/Jourlejour/8601-8700/61-hoegh_delhi.jpg

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=96730&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=96731&s=3&f=4

http://img.lrytas.lt/show_foto/?id=96732&s=3&f=4

That looks really impressive! Especially the ship itself, though it seems it doesn't belong to any of our three countries.. Will the cargo be delivered from Klaipeda straight to Venezuela?

Yeah, the cargo will go straight from Klaipeda to Venezuela. The ship is Norwegian. And it is the second batch of those tractors. Batka promised more of this kind of cargo in a future :)

The first time the tractors were shiped by this ship:

http://g.diena.lt/00/45/712e0b.jpg

To be more precise, Belarus, Venesuela and involved companies signed an agreement on delivery of 14.000 Belarusian tractors and trucks each year.

Lithuanian railroads, Klaipeda port and Belarusian companies are negotiating lower fares, after which, Klaipeda might grab most of Belarus' export. Currently they are mostly using St. Petersburg, but are searching for geographically closer alternatives and safer, more predictable business environment.

^^If they didn't do it long time ago, they should have special reasons for that

Currently they are mostly using St. Petersburg,

80% of Belorussian sea exported goods are transported through Latvian ports.

^ Very right. As far as I know, recently there was signed an agreement of Belarus and Latvia to co-operate in terms of transit, transportation and ports' facilities.

Not exactly anything of an importance,but I guess it's interesting to know about what Baltic shipyards are doing...

Ship (-s) currently under construction in Tallinn's shipyard (owned by BLRT group): combi-freighter,size - 3850dwt (last one out of five ordered by Damen Shipyard Bergum,Dutch)

First one (already finished)
http://blrt.cma.ee/pics/main/blue_sea_153924.jpg

...and construction photo of one of those freighters.
http://blrt.cma.ee/pics/main/combi_under_construction_s__135500.jpg

There's also a final stage of assembly of partly outfitted fish feeder hull for Myklebust Prosject,Norway.

Ship (-s) under construction in Klaipeda,Western shipyard (again,owned by BLRT): Ferries for Saaremaa Shipping Company (Estonia),finishing works will be done in Fiskarstrand shipyard,Norway. Originally three were planned,but I'm not sure,how many will be built. About one such ferry: length - 92,4m ;width - 18m; draft - 4m; able to carry 600 passengers,150 cars & 12 trailer trucks.

Render of a ferry
http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/projektai/ivykdyti/vsp/saarema_0480_0001.jpg

...and work in progress (foto from this autumn,this one should be already in Norway for final finishing works)
http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/kompanijos_imones/vlr/10001_m.jpg

I would have made an update on Riga's shipyard also,but latest data on Riga's shipyard website dates back to 2004 :nuts: Any help,Latvian forumers?

There are shipyard in Liepāja as well. No idea what are they currently constructing.

Riga port in 11 months this year served 27,24 mio tons of cargo (+1,3% compared to last year).
Served 648 277 passengers (+39,3%).

Areals of sea port in St.Petersburg
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3501/vassiliy2005.39/0_2b3c8_8d32734c_XL.jpg

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3603/vassiliy2005.39/0_2b3c9_c716a98d_XL.jpg

Passenger terminal:
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3708/vassiliy2005.45/0_32241_1885592f_XL.jpg

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3502/vassiliy2005.35/0_28ed2_2431b6b8_XL.jpg

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3605/vassiliy2005.35/0_28ed1_4e14cd82_XL.jpg

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3607/vassiliy2005.35/0_28ed4_6cac8538_XL.jpg

Nice :okay: What direct ferry routes St.Petersburg currently has?

^^There are no regular ferry routes ATM :ohno:

Vorkuta?

^^There are no regular ferry routes ATM :ohno:

There was Helsinki - St.Petersburg line few years ago,right?

But at least since the recent times St.Petersburg new passenger port is capable to serve the biggest cruise liners in the world! :cheers:

Several pretty large investments prepared for Riga port and will start shortly:

- Construction of Kundzinsala container terminal NKT after lingering for many years shall start next year and end in 2012. Investment in this first stage 55 mio EUR, capacity 110 - 130 thousand TEU per year. Afterwards planned next two stages bringing capacity uo tp 500 000 TEU, costs - circa 300 million EUR. Investments for first stage - mainly from Russia.
- In Krievusala in 2009-2018 to be invested 152 mio EUR. This is new terminal in new place. 77,2 mio EUR to covered by EU Cohesion Funds, 75,4 mio EUR - by port itself. In this year they did major earth works.

^ Really good news! At least Riga port is developing as it's promised, not the way RIX does, although both of them face hard difficulties!

These projects sound a bit weird, hearing all those news about Russians going away from Baltics to develop their own ports and infrastructure. Don't know whom to believe.

I have the same doubts, but...
The only thing what makes these projects credible - one (container terminal) has got Russian investments and another - EU financing. Those port enterprises which are closer to Riga Centrum might be going to this other project - Krievusala. This will free up northern part of Riga Centre to other development.

In spite of global meltdown, cargo turnover of Ust-Luga port in January-November 2009 increased by 47,7% - to 9,3 million tons.
Once it is completed, it will become the biggest port in the region and will take all the Russian transit from Baltic states and Finland.
There are plans to build a new town close by the port and invite there people from Estonia.:cheers:

^ Why exactly from Estonia, like who? I doubt much people from EU country would go to Russia, maybe only those Russian-speaking guys rest in both Estonia and Latvia..

^ Why exactly from Estonia, like who? I doubt much people from EU country would go to Russia, maybe only those Russian-speaking guys rest in both Estonia and Latvia..

Because Estonia is quite close and maybe "non-citizens" of Estonia, especially experienced port workers who lost their job would like to move?

I doubt that. Dockers job is back-breaking but usually well paid and those people really aren't ones who would simply run for searching new jobs. And don't mix dockers (who mainly are citizens,because of healthcare benefits,pension etc) with shipyard workers (who mainly are immigrants from Ukraine,Russia & other former SU republics)

In spite of global meltdown, cargo turnover of Ust-Luga port in January-November 2009 increased by 47,7% - to 9,3 million tons.
Once it is completed, it will become the biggest port in the region and will take all the Russian transit from Baltic states and Finland.
There are plans to build a new town close by the port and invite there people from Estonia.:cheers:
Russia has invited it's people back to Russia many times but who would leave an EU country that is opened wide to the world? I actually wouldn't mind some of Russian immigrants leaving who came here during the Soviet Union, Ida-Virumaa is currently almost 65 % Russian.

Why are that guy spamming this thread with russian port statistics? :crazy:

Interesting map I found:

Map of Muuga harbour & industrial park development.
(green - available land lots for industrial development,grey - reserved land lots,light blue & orange - new infrastructure,white - new quays & terminal area)

Western part of Muuga harbour.
http://estate.portoftallinn.com/kr1/alus.jpg

Eastern part of Muuga harbour.
http://estate.portoftallinn.com/kr2/alus.jpg

^ Great plans, good luck! Where exactly will this harbour be located, probably North coast, right? That would make quite a competiton even to the same Tallinn port!

This IS Port Of Tallinn (map shows it's extension plans). Simply Port Of Tallinn is locally more known as Muuga harbour. :) Town of Muuga is in Tallinn metro area and the port itself is about 15km from Tallinn's Downtown. During summer I drove around road which runs near the port and I have to say,it's huge :D Currently entire port area is over 5-6km wide and once they finish expansion... :crazy:

Port Of Tallinn has released it's yearly statistics. According to them,2009 was highly successful year,especially in passenger traffic (all time record was broken) However,they predict fall in both passenger & cargo traffic in 2010,kind of a afterwave of economic depression. Anyway,here are the numbers:

Cargo Total cargo volume passing through Port Of Tallinn - 31,6 million tons(increase comparing to 2008 - +9%)

Passengers As I mentioned before,there were 416 000 cruise ship passengers in 2009. Total number of passengers passing through Port Of Tallinn (excluding cruise ship passengers) in 2009 - 7,26 million people (that's 7,260,000 ! All time record ! :bow:)

Port Of Tallinn has released it's yearly statistics. According to them,2009 was highly successful year,especially in passenger traffic (all time record was broken) However,they predict fall in both passenger & cargo traffic in 2010,kind of a afterwave of economic depression. Anyway,here are the numbers:

Cargo Total cargo volume passing through Port Of Tallinn - 31,6 million tons(increase comparing to 2008 - +9%)

Passengers As I mentioned before,there were 416 000 cruise ship passengers in 2009. Total number of passengers passing through Port Of Tallinn (excluding cruise ship passengers) in 2009 - 7,26 million people (that's 7,260,000 ! All time record ! :bow:)

That's great! Isn't that more passengers than the major Baltic airports got all together?

Yes it is. :) Stockholm & Helsinki haven't released their passenger statistics yet,but Tallinn should be third largest port of entire Baltic Sea in passenger traffic.

And if counting Copenhagen as a Baltic port, do you think you have run ahead of it?
But what about cargo volumes, which port is No.1 in this region?
As far as I know, Riga port this year had 29,72 million tons of cargo, which is 0.5% increase comparing to previous year! And in terms of passenger flow Riga port had an increase of 37.4% - 691,51 thousand passengers!

I've only seen old numbers of Copenhagen port and tbh,those are not very impressive :D (some 18 million tons of cargo & 1,6 million passengers in 2008)

As of no.1 cargo port - I doubt anyone can beat Primorsk/Russia & their 76,5 million tons (in 2008) of cargo.

Passengers As I mentioned before,there were 416 000 cruise ship passengers in 2009. Total number of passengers passing through Port Of Tallinn (excluding cruise ship passengers) in 2009 - 7,26 million people (that's 7,260,000 ! All time record ! :bow:)
Approximately 15 times more than in St.Petersburg.

How many times per year average Estonian visits Finland (and vice versa)?

How many times per year average Estonian visits Finland (and vice versa)?

There hasn't been official statistics about that. Probably a few times per year (using myself as an example :D) Of course,not all Estonians visit Finland & not all Finns visit Estonia. I'm taking a wild guess here,but I think about those 7,26 million roughly 2 million are Estonian passengers,3 - 3,5 million are Finnish vodka tourists & rest are foreigners from other countries.

Riga and Liepaja Ports increased their cargo turnover in 2009, cargo turnover at Ventspils Port decreased


Last year, a total of 61.98 million tons of cargo were handled at Latvian ports, which is 2.6% less when compared to 2008, according to date from the Transport Ministry. In 2009, a total of 60.74 million tons of cargo were handled in Latvia's three largest ports – Riga, Ventspils and Liepaja.

Out of the three large ports, Riga Port and Liepaja Port were able to increase their cargo turnover, whilst cargo turnover at Ventspils Port decreased.

Last year, Riga Port handled a total of 29.72 million tons of cargo, which is 0.6% more when compared to 2008.

Ventspils Port handled 26.64 tons of cargo last year, which is 6.8% less than in 2008, when it handled 28.57 million tons of cargo.

On the other hand, Liepaja Port handled 4.38 million tons of cargo last year, which is a 4.6% increase from 2008.

In February the ice situation at Estonian ports is predicted to become much more difficult


While thus far, only a few Estonian ports have had problems with the ice, in February 2010 the ice situation is predicted by experts to become much more difficult, Postimees/LETA writes.

“Ice conditions will definitely become worse soon,” said Director General of the Maritime Administration Andrus Maide, noting that what we have currently is a normal, close-to-average Estonian winter but February is always the coldest.

Maide said that problems will occur with the wind from the north that would bring the ice to the Estonian shores.

With South winds the ice moves to the Finnish coast where it is now. This causes problems for shipping traffic, for example last Friday passenger ferry Norlandia got stuck in ice on its way from Helsinki to Tallinn. With the help of a Finnish icebreaker and other big ferries, the passengers who started from Helsinki in the morning reached home by Friday evening.

The thickness of ice near Estonian ports now is 5-15 cm, but in places like Pärnu, 40 cm.

Port administrators estimate that Estonia would need the second ice-breaking vessel to manage with the difficult weather conditions later towards the end of the winter.

When Estonia cannot cope with her two icebreakers, Tarmo that operates in Gulf of Finland and Eva-316 that operates in Pärnu Bay, a third one will be rented from Sweden and gets to the Gulf of Finland in ten days minimum.

^^
Looks like we need to rent Finnish ice-breakers again :ohno: There have been plans for building new ice-breakers in recent years,but it all kinda died down after Eva-316 was built (economic depression?)

...and EVA-316 isn't even a ship built as an ice breaker, it's meant for all sorts of trouble like oil spills. We haven't had a winter like this for years, nobody expected this.

...and EVA-316 isn't even a ship built as an ice breaker, it's meant for all sorts of trouble like oil spills.

How about nuclear powered ice-breakers? :)

How about nuclear powered ice-breakers? :)

What if such ship won't manage to pull through some enormous ice layer or will be damaged by a huge iceberg and as a result will sink? Have you thought what kind of ecological world-scale disaster will this raise?! :ohno:

How about nuclear powered ice-breakers? :)Why would we need those? One more of this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3333314090_4b68a570eb.jpg
And our needs would be covered.
--
The ice-breaker on the picture above is Tarmo. Estonia's only ship that was built to break ice. The ship was built in 1963, in Finland. It belongs to Estonia since 1993. Estonia wants to build 3 ice-breakers for rough winters, one of the projects is ready but the ships are on hold.

The other ship that was mentioned here before, is EVA-316. The multi-purpose ship was built some 2-4 years back when there was some trouble with oil spills on the coasts of Estonia. EVA is used mostly at places where the water is not too deep and ice not too thick, it is mostly used in Pärnu bay and around the islands on the west coast.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/113452118_a9fcaf9b17.jpg

Some years ago there was also a rough winter and the Gulf of Finland was frozen, Estonia then used it's biggest navy ship, Admiral Pitka to break the ice, because there just wasn't enough ships.

Riga port at the end of January has handed over to the government the necessary documents to get EU Cohesion fund financing for Krievusala development project.
Costs - 153 mio EUR, aim - development of new port area in Krievusala, closer to the mouth of Daugava, left bank. Here will move over these parts of Riga port which are close to centrum now.
Project was in EU Cohesion program, thus it will be supported, I think. Then in this year construction will start.
- - -
"Jaunpagasts plus" has completed technical design and business plan for their new bioethanol factory in Riga port. Costs of factory - 65 mio EUR, yearly capacity - 300 000 tons of grain.
Further development of project depends on moment when Latvian credit rating will go up and whether the state will provide guarantees (it will, I think). But in general it is sad - good project can not start here due to bad credit rating of whole country...

Oh, so seems everything is going according Šlesers' wily plan! :sly: But anyway great to hear that we are getting a powerful industrial port!

Some news about the planned new Krievusala terminal in Riga port:
- If government supports ES Cohesion fund investment in the new part of Riga port, in March 2010 there will be announced international tender to select the construction company.
- If all goes well - at the end of 2010, or if there is any claim regarding the tender (happens too often recently) - then in early 2011 there will start construction works.
- In late 2012 - early 2013 the new part of port should be completed.
- New part of port will have four wharfs suitable for Panamax ships (65 - 80 thousand tons).
- There will be reconstructed railway connection to Krievu sala.
- - -
Port managers tell that interest to open new enterprises in Riga Port currently is very high and port is in comfortable position to select the best proposals.

Why not invest money into Ventspils and Liepāja ports? At least they have a direct connection with the sea. :lol: I hate to see, that the country cares about Riga only...

^Agreed, that's a very strange strategy.. Also, they could develop some regional little ports at the coast of Riga! But, ok, let Riga make it way first, then others would follow! :cheers:

Come on, this is very unjust... You see EU money in every single bit of development in Ventspils or Liepaja ports, but so far nothing in Riga. Can tell nice little stories about some people from public organisations getting money directly from Ventspils (going there with their cars on weekends and getting banknotes for "further activities") and pushing ahead the case of Riga port development plan to Satversmes tiesa... and "happily" stopping any development in Riga port in 2005 - 2009. Hard to say whether Ventspils won something from it, but Klaipeda and Tallinn certainly did.

It's fine to see that finally at least a single small bit from Cohesion Fund is used in Riga. Otherwise it seems that Cohesion Fund is meant for everything what can be invented anywhere in Latvia but only not for Riga metropolitan region where lives almost half of Latvia.

It's also weird to see Cohesion Fund spent for roads where only few hundreds of cars drive per day while Riga with it's thousands standing in traffic jams can't get anything just because it is politically more correct to give money to "countryside". Liepaja port access road gets EU money easily - but I could not notice any serious problems for trucks to reach Liepaja port also though existing roads. But could Riga port get EU money for at least one normal truck access road to port? Nope, direct project proposals for EU money were rejected, Riga is not a priority... Meanwhile Riga pays major part of its budget to municipal levellation fund and... well, this money in many municipalities is used to co-finance EU projects. Of course, it is fine to see renovated historical centres of small towns (plenty is done with EU money recently), houses insulated and central streets redesigned and paved. But somehow people from there leave to Riga or better - to London and the desired private investment in industries or services does not come to these small towns. Then tell me - was it the best investment of EU money?

Of course, this sounds just sweet and right (hit Riga, its too big!), but in such way we loose opportunity to have strong development centre which would drag out the country from quagmire.

Hard to say whether Ventspils won something from it, but Klaipeda and Tallinn certainly did.

Majority of Klaipeda's cargo is of Lithuanian origin.

Come on, this is very unjust... You see EU money in every single bit of development in Ventspils or Liepaja ports, but so far nothing in Riga. Can tell nice little stories about some people from public organisations getting money directly from Ventspils (going there with their cars on weekends and getting banknotes for "further activities") and pushing ahead the case of Riga port development plan to Satversmes tiesa... and "happily" stopping any development in Riga port in 2005 - 2009. Hard to say whether Ventspils won something from it, but Klaipeda and Tallinn certainly did.

It's fine to see that finally at least a single small bit from Cohesion Fund is used in Riga. Otherwise it seems that Cohesion Fund is meant for everything what can be invented anywhere in Latvia but only not for Riga metropolitan region where lives almost half of Latvia.

It's also weird to see Cohesion Fund spent for roads where only few hundreds of cars drive per day while Riga with it's thousands standing in traffic jams can't get anything just because it is politically more correct to give money to "countryside". Liepaja port access road gets EU money easily - but I could not notice any serious problems for trucks to reach Liepaja port also though existing roads. But could Riga port get EU money for at least one normal truck access road to port? Nope, direct project proposals for EU money were rejected, Riga is not a priority... Meanwhile Riga pays major part of its budget to municipal levellation fund and... well, this money in many municipalities is used to co-finance EU projects. Of course, it is fine to see renovated historical centres of small towns (plenty is done with EU money recently), houses insulated and central streets redesigned and paved. But somehow people from there leave to Riga or better - to London and the desired private investment in industries or services does not come to these small towns. Then tell me - was it the best investment of EU money?

Of course, this sounds just sweet and right (hit Riga, its too big!), but in such way we loose opportunity to have strong development centre which would drag out the country from quagmire.

Agree. And one more factor are those countless villages in bushes around Riga where people pay taxes while only sleeping there. I'm up for serious expanding of Riga city borders. Let's liquidate all those unneccessary municipalities around Riga - Ķekava, Garkalne, Mārupe, Salaspils, etc and make Greater Riga administrative borders. It's all urban area anyway. Also Jurmala shouldn't be separate town but the part of Riga as it was historically. I see almost only gains from such administrative reform.

Btw. When Riga didn't get EU money - wasn't that time when Aksenoks ruled the city? Because then Tautas Partija ruled the government, and of course, they didn't gave nothing to Riga just because Jaunais Laiks ruled there.

According to Port Of Tallinn,former C-terminal on Admirality Basin (in front of Old Town) will be used as yacht harbour & sailing club. Terminal has not been used for few years (it closed doors after Nordic Jet Line shut down it's operations) The new Vanasadama yacht club will open it's doors in this year,early May. Yacht club will have floating piers with 64 pier places for up to 60 foot long yachts.

Maybe we see super rich & their yachts in Tallinn more often :D

Btw. When Riga didn't get EU money - wasn't that time when Aksenoks ruled the city? Because then Tautas Partija ruled the government, and of course, they didn't gave nothing to Riga just because Jaunais Laiks ruled there.
That also is true. Earlier Riga was ruled by social democrats and that was reason why Southern bridge didn't get anything etc.
So this may be is not exactly some hate towards Riga, just pettifogging strugle between parties.

One more Estonian port has released it's statistics - Port Of Sillamäe had 2,5million tons of cargo last year. That's pretty much all the information they gave (they are notoriuosly secretive about their cargo volumes)

Port Of Sillamäe is located in Eastern Estonia,Sillamäe town. It handles chemical,oil & bulk cargo,conteiners & cars. Few pics & map of the port.

http://www.silport.ee/413i573x327.jpg

http://www.silport.ee/396i573x429.jpg

http://www.silport.ee/383i573x257.jpg

http://www.silport.ee/410i573x238.jpg

http://www.silport.ee/295i424x600.jpg

Wow, this one seems to be a very new port, probably not long ago constructed! And if taking into account its location and free spaces for future expansion, Sillamae should become a very perspective and competitive port! :cheers:

http://www.silport.ee/410i573x238.jpg

New cisterns. Awesome.

Cargo data for January of 2010 from vz.lt:

1. Tallinn: 3,12 mio, that's +25,4% more than Jan. of last year.
2. Klaipėda: 2,53 mio, +14,1%
3. Ventspils 2,37 mio, -20%
4. Riga 2,19 mio, -15,6%

How many times per year average Estonian visits Finland (and vice versa)?

My personal statistics:
1998 - Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu
2000 - Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Salo-Helsinki-Salo-Turku-Salo-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu
2001 - Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Tampere-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu
2005 - Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Porvoo-Helsinki-Mikkeli-Helsinki-Tallinn-Riga-Vilnius-Riga-Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu
2007 - Tallinn-Helsinki-Copenhagen-Helsinki-Tallinn
2009 - Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu-Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn-Tartu

Lol..

+ I have been to Riga over 20 times, to Warsaw 8 times, to Budapest 4 times and so on.

Baltic ferries slammed for 'Titanic syndrome'



The Swedish Maritime Administration – Sjöfartsverket – has sharply criticized ferry companies in the Baltic Sea for ignoring warnings and failing to change routes to avoid thick ice sheets, LETA/The Local reports.

Nearly 20 ferries were still stuck in the ice off Sweden's Baltic Sea coast on Saturday morning, following a week in which thousands of passengers were stranded on ships which became marooned between ice blocks up to 15 metres thick.

A number of ferries operating between Sweden and Finland took difficult ice-bound routes without contacting the ice breaker service and against the advice of maritime safety authorities, said Johnny Lindvall from the maritime administration's ice breaker service.

"They've got Titanic Syndrome – they think they are immortal," he told Svenska Dagbladet newspaper's on line edition.

However Jan Karström, CEO of the Viking Lines ferry company, said that the warnings came too late and a number of ferries were already stuck hard in the ice when the message was received.

The maritime administration has also criticized ships for ramming ice sheets at high speed in an attempt to break through. Lindvall said that the ferries irresponsible behaviour was using up scarce ice breaking resources.

"We don't have enough ice breakers to handle this number of stranded ships," he said.

Remember that ferry (of several ones),which was built in Klaipeda Shipyard? Well,it's completed now and has reached Rohuküla harbour,Western Estonia. The ferry,named "Muhumaa",is due to make it's first official voyage between continental Estonia & Hiiumaa island in monday,15th March. Each ferry crossing should take approx 75 minutes.

:cheers:

Here's few pics of it...
http://f.postimees.ee/f/2010/03/13/330968t55hc43b.jpg
http://f.postimees.ee/f/2010/03/13/330969t55hf3e1.jpg
http://f.postimees.ee/f/2010/03/13/330976t55h80df.jpg

Thanks for the good news! Hope for the futher orders ;)

^^

Atleast two more ferries will be ordered (probably even in this year). :cheers:

:cheers:

New and shiny but it isn't much faster than the old one (you will win 10-20 minutes.) When ordering, they should've thought about rough winters aswell, since this ship will be stuck in the port when the sea is frozen.

meh...the second ferry comes from Norway in june 2010 and same time they start building 3rd in Lithuania and Norway.
Tuule class ferrys are a bit better in shallow waters, but they are so high (?!) twice as old ones.
BTW. Joke is in estonian headline: "Muhumaa hakkab käima mandri ja Hiiumaa vahel".

^ And what shoud that mean approximately in English?
Btw, doesn't Estonia plan someday to construct a bridge to connect at least Saaremaa with continental part?

Sweeet (that ship built in Klaipeda...)
I remember how we - group of environmental administration students - visited Klaipeda Shipyard in 1995 and people there were nearly convinced that the factory will cease to exist soon. But they survived and make such fine ships!

^ And what shoud that mean approximately in English?
Btw, doesn't Estonia plan someday to construct a bridge to connect at least Saaremaa with continental part?

"Muhumaa (the new ferry,more importantly,in this it joke refers to Estonian island) starts going between continent & Hiiumaa island"

Saaremaa Bridge? Maybe in some distant future (in 10 years time? :dunno:)

Sweeet (that ship built in Klaipeda...)
I remember how we - group of environmental administration students - visited Klaipeda Shipyard in 1995 and people there were nearly convinced that the factory will cease to exist soon. But they survived and make such fine ships!

There are two Shipyards in Klaipeda and both are running successfully.

"Vakaru Laivu Gamykla" - where the aforementioned ferry was built, builds new and refurbishes old ships.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/948/neregetalietuva109.jpg

One pretty cool ship finished recently for a german company and meant for building wind farms in the sea. They've previously built a Residential and converter platform for the same company as-well.

http://www.technologijos.lt/upload/image/n/pranesimai_spaudai/straipsnis-9298/nuotrauka-21186/WINDLIFT1-8.JPG

Another picture of the Estonian ferry
http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/projektai/saaremaa_good.jpg

And one of an identical one built for Germany. "VLG" has built at least a dozen ferries for Norway, Germany, Finland and Estonia in few recent years.

http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/sylt.jpg


And there's also "Baltijos laivu statykla". They usually build only parts of the ships - hulls, blocks and turn-key superstructures. Some of the more known things they built are:

Hull parts and the white top of Emma Maersk and hull parts for "Oasis of the Seas" and "Allure of the Seas"
http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/pictures/gallery/Companies/Maersk_Emma.jpg

nice, hope Estonian companies buy the ship yard one day.

:D

More photos of the ferry:

http://g.diena.lt/01/33/245dcd.jpg

http://g.diena.lt/01/33/24243e.jpg

http://g.diena.lt/01/33/241174.jpg

http://g.diena.lt/01/33/244b85.jpg

http://g.diena.lt/01/33/243cfc.jpg

nice, hope Estonian companies buy the ship yard one day.

:D

Isn't Vakaru Laivu Gamykla already Estonian?

Isn't Vakaru Laivu Gamykla already Estonian?
Actually yes VLG is owned by BLRT Grupp AS (http://www.bsr.ee/index.php?lang=eng).

Does the fact that Abromovich owns Chelsea make it a Russian team? :)

^^
;) Well it hardly is British with more than,what? 2/3 of players being foreigners...

But Western Shipyard certainly is the pride of Lithuanians :yes: and IMHO,the best shipyard in Baltics.

I'm suprised the amount of different ferries & barges they have produced (mostly for Norwegians) Just look at these (from 2008):
http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/projektai/ivykdyti/vsp/asis_keltas_02.jpg

http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/projektai/ivykdyti/vsp/asis_keltas_m.jpg

http://www.wsy.lt/galery/_wsy/projektai/ivykdyti/vsp/fv_57.jpg

But Western Shipyard certainly is the pride of Lithuanians :yes: and IMHO,the best shipyard in Baltics.

Thanks, but saying it's "our pride" is a big big overstatement. Most Lith's couldn't care less about some shipbuilding company, even if it is very successfull lately. ;)


Btw, "Baltijos laivu statykla" is owned by "Odense Steel Shipyard", which is part of "Moller-Maersk group" - hence the involvement in contruction of "Emma Maersk".

Wow, I didn't know Lithuanians actually produce ships like that. Great!

^ Indeed! Having only one active port city you've surpassed both LV and EE ports in this sphere! Keep up the good work! :)

Saaremaa Bridge? Maybe in some distant future (in 10 years time? :dunno:)
10 years would be just great but highly unlikely, I remember a few years back when optimists were talking about having the bridge by 2030.

The most recent 2010 data of Klaipėda seaport

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4464088684_6477a26ef4_o.gif

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4463313321_775ee58b69_o.gif



2009 data of Klaipėda seaport

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

Annual cargo turnover of Klaipeda port (Mln. tones)
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/admin/images/get.php?id=9975

Container handling in Baltic ports (Th. TEU)
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/admin/images/get.php?id=9972

^ And is it like Liepāja out-of-competition, well Ventspils has also a very long way to go before it could reach at least Tallinn.. And why nothing from other Estonian ports? Are they also not even a bit near to the scales of those three?

Port Of Tallinn has released this years expected visiting cruise ships list. During cruise ship season 2010,Tallinn will have 273 ship visits. Slightly lower number in terms of ships (in 2009 there were 309 ship visits),but visiting cruise ships are overall larger & with more passengers than previous year.

Here's the full list (.pdf format) > http://www.portoftallinn.com/_up/file/Cruises-Tallinn-2010.pdf

It seems,the top day will be 7th July with approx 10000 passengers. Biggest ships visiting Tallinn this year (I used Wiki to get exact passenger numbers) :
Azura (3092 passengers,new ship,2010 will be it's first cruising season)
Celebrity Eclipse (2,852 passengers,new ship,2010 will be it's first cruising season)
Star Princess (2,600 passengers)
Costa Deliziosa (2,828 passengers,new ship,2010 will be it's first cruising season)
Disney Magic (2,400 passengers)
MSC Poesia (max.3605 passengers)

..and this is how the MSC Poesia looks like (not my photo,source Wikipedia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a6/MSC_Poesia.jpg/800px-MSC_Poesia.jpg


Meanwhile,Port Of Tallinn has again pointed out the need for new cruise ship berth,due to ever increasing interest towards Tallinn as popular cruise destination. There have been several options for it - new quay for cruise ships in Vanasadam,or quays in Paljassaare harbour (included in Paljassaare harbour redevelopment project,sadly after the economic crisis there hasn't been any news about the development plans) IMO,Paljassaare harbour would be most unrealistic,as the harbour currently functions as a cargo port and area next to the harbour is...well,a total hell hole (no need to sugarcoat it ;))

Port of Tallinn takes a lead over Southern neighbours in cargo volumes in 2009

Port of Tallinn regained the third position after Primorsk and St Petersburg ports among larger Baltic Sea Eastern coast ports in 2009, being ahead of Riga, Ventspils and Klaipeda ports, LETA/National Broadcasting reports.

The cargo volume was last year 31.6 mln tonnes, a growth of nearly 9% or 2.5 mln tonnes.

The number of passengers was at a record level, 7.26 million.

The port operator company said that the audited 2009 reports kept the economic indicators for 2009 that were first revealed in February unchanged. The net profit was 408 mln kroons, by 2% more than in 2008. Turnover grew by 8% to 1.27 bln kroons.

The loan burden of the company was 2.6 bln kroons at the end of the year, a growth of 273 mln kroons in a year.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=25318

"Vakaru Laivu Gamykla" -

He he, sounds quite funny from Latvian perspective. "Vakaru laivu", I guess it means the same as in Latvian "Vakara laiva" = "Evening boat". Why they have such name - are they bulding ships only in evenings? :lol: Nevermind.

Vakari = west. Because Sun in evening goes down in west.

He he, sounds quite funny from Latvian perspective. "Vakaru laivu", I guess it means the same as in Latvian "Vakara laiva" = "Evening boat". Why they have such name - are they bulding ships only in evenings? :lol: Nevermind.

Vakari = west. Because Sun in evening goes down in west.

Literally - Vakaru Laivu Gamykla = Western Shipyard

Latest data from Klaipėda port

In March 2010 Klaipėda port handled 2.575 million tonnes of cargo which is a 17.8% increase compared to March 2009.

In 2010 Q1 Klaipėda handled 7,36 million tonnes of cargo which is a 14,1% increase compared to 2009 Q1.

In March Tallink's passenger numbers went up by +36%. Tallink served 748 836 passengers,biggest growth came from Tallinn-Stockholm line (Tin_Can also contributed to passenger numbers :cheers:) According to Tallink,biggest cause of positive growth was new ship on Tallinn-Stockholm line,Baltic Queen,which replaced smaller Romantika.

Source:http://ap3.ee/article/2010/04/05/Tallinki_reisijate_arv_kasvas_36

In March Tallink's passenger numbers went up by +36%. Tallink served 748 836 passengers,biggest growth came from Tallinn-Stockholm line (Tin_Can also contributed to passenger numbers :cheers:) According to Tallink,biggest cause of positive growth was new ship on Tallinn-Stockholm line,Baltic Queen,which replaced smaller Romantika.

Source:http://ap3.ee/article/2010/04/05/Tallinki_reisijate_arv_kasvas_36

lol. Biggest cause was free tickets for like a 100 000 people.

I contributed. Twice.

Even if you don't add those tickets,growth was quite large for Tallink. I think I recieved those free offer tickets too,but by the time I went to a trip I already had lost them (damn Tallink should have made that offer electronically :D)

lol. Biggest cause was free tickets for like a 100 000 people.

I contributed. Twice.

Free tickets, where can I get one?

Tallink gave them to ClubONE members (Tallink's bonus club) If I remember correctly they gave free tickets last winter too. I guess it's meant as boosting low passenger numbers during winter season (and making profit for Tallink)? :dunno:

^^
They sent me 2 Stockholm cruise tickets for 4 people this year :crazy:
Already went once in early January and leaving again on the 15th.

Congrats,man! Stockholm is pretty sweet in spring. :yes: I hope you have a nice trip.

^^
They sent me 2 Stockholm cruise tickets for 4 people this year :crazy:
Already went once in early January and leaving again on the 15th.

I will go to Stockholm in late spring too from Riga :)

Tallink gave them to ClubONE members (Tallink's bonus club) If I remember correctly they gave free tickets last winter too. I guess it's meant as boosting low passenger numbers during winter season (and making profit for Tallink)? :dunno:

empty ship is a sad ship.

Visa-free ferry to St. Petersburg

The undertaking, set to launch in April, is the brainchild of St. Peter Line, a newly-founded ferry operator registered in the EU and sailing under the Maltese flag. The company is offering passengers from all over the world the chance to take the ferry line from Helsinki and spend 72 hours in Saint Petersburg or another desired city without a Russian visa. The country’s visa laws require, however, that tourists travel in a group of at least two people and book their accommodation beforehand from a travel company authorised by the Russian government. The visa freedom on route trips has been made possible by newly-adopted changes to Russian legislation, supported strongly by the Saint Petersburg City Government.

According to preliminary schedule, the vessel Princess Maria, accommodating up to 1,638 passengers, will conduct five voyages a week from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg, with the cheapest prices promised to be around 40 euros. On board, shipgoers will be treated with restaurants, tax free shops and authentic Russian entertainment. St. Peter Line believes there is strong demand for this kind of service, and hopes to attract 500,000 tourists annually.

When St Peter Line announced the ferry line in January, they assured that all the open questions would be solved before April. Until this day, the company hasn’t confirmed the schedule or the prices, and there are still uncertainties with the port agreements.

This is the second time in recent years that the cruise connection between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg is tried out. In 2008, Finnish Stella Lines started operating the route but pulled out after a few months because of the worsening economic climate.

http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/travel/9834-visa-free-ferry-to-st-petersburg-.html

Wrong thread, wrong forum.

Wrong forum? Which one? Get back to life, dude :nuts:

^^
Could you fellows go and fight somewhere else,plz? Thanks! :)



Tallink re-opens Helsinki-Rostock line.

Since next monday it will be possible again to use a ship to get from Helsinki to Rostock (this also means that it's possible to get from Tallinn to Rostock,via switching ships in Helsinki) According to Tallink sales director Peter Roose,summer schedule of Rostock line has been confirmed and within summer it should be clear if the line resumes in autumn.

Previously,in january Tallink pulled out both of it's Rostock line ships - Superfast VII and Superfast VIII,for maintenance. However it hasn't been any secret that Helsinki-Rostock line is one of the worst performers for Tallink and is providing large part of Tallink's financial losses. Hence the uncertain status of the line.

Superfast VIII in Tallinn's harbour (late march,photo by Tin_Can)
http://i40.tinypic.com/epq3o2.jpg

Wrong forum? Which one? Get back to life, dude :nuts:

The one with a 2headed chicken is a place for such threads.

So why then they can't make the line Tallinn - Rostock instead? Btw, which routes are opened from Tallinn to get exactly to the destination?

So why then they can't make the line Tallinn - Rostock instead?

Because it would probably be even less profitable than Helsinki-Rostock line.

Btw, which routes are opened from Tallinn to get exactly to the destination?

Do you mean direct lines without switching ships? If so,then we have Tallinn-Helsinki and Tallinn-Stockholm lines.(I know,it ain't much)

The one with a 2headed chicken is a place for such threads.

You still don't get what problem with you and you country is.

PS. My Finnish mates would like to visit Russia, but hassle with visa make this nearly impossible. They launched visa free (after special law of Russian government) regular ferry route Helsinki-St.Petersburg this week that make it possible :cheers:

You still don't get what problem with you and you country is.

PS. My Finnish mates would like to visit Russia, but hassle with visa make this nearly impossible. They launched visa free (after special law of Russian government) regular ferry route Helsinki-St.Petersburg this week that make it possible :cheers:

Where could i read more about these new visa rules? Saint Petersburg is worth seeing. ;)

You still don't get what problem with you and you country is.


Did it ever strike you as odd - the Russian logic that is, that all of it's neighbours are the axis of evil, while Russia itself is the land of milk and honey? :|

Did it ever strike you as odd - the Russian logic that is, that all of it's neighbours are the axis of evil, while Russia itself is the land of milk and honey? :|

No, Russia isn't the best country in the world in most of the areas, just another country and a homeland for many people(s)


PS: Hate makes life unbearable

You still don't get what problem with you and you country is.


You still don't get what is the problem with your head? Empire still runs in it. And now get lost.

I feel sorry for my fellow Balts.

Nothing to add unfortunately.

fellow Balts.

They're more like "neighbours Balts" rather than "fellow Balts", since... ah well you know.

I'm glad that void0 posted this, since a visa has always seemed like too much hassle for me, but I still think St Petersburg is worth seeing.

Do you mean direct lines without switching ships? If so,then we have Tallinn-Helsinki and Tallinn-Stockholm lines.(I know,it ain't much)

Yep, for such strategic port as Tallinn, this is indeed not much.. Any plans for further directions? May be Saint-Petersburg? ;)

There was Tallinn-St.Petersburg ship line some years ago,run by Tallink,but it was shut down because of low passenger numbers & high port taxes in St.Petersburg. I guess the visa issue was the biggest problem. But if Finns can work it out with Russians,then I'm sure that one day Tallinn-St.Petersburg line would operate again (although in form of a Tallink cruise line) After all,both the Tallink and St.Petersburg city officials have shown interest of re-opening the line.

As of any other new lines - I haven't heard of any plans... :dunno:

Cruise ship season has started today with arrival of MS Fram at Tallinn. :cheers: Season lasts up to 20th septtember.

MS Fram (small cruise ship,able to carry about 400 passengers)
http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/msfram/images/1-ms-fram.jpg

This is great news that we will be able to visit St-Petersburg without a visa. This city belongs the culture of all Europeans! And to cruise on the Baltic sea to reach it is a nice city approach... Actually, for me, Visas are outdated. Anyway, we are controlled at borders entering Russia and with computers, we can know right away who we are, our past, etc. Visas are only made to make money and pay a bit administration, commercials (in the case of Egypt for example,...)

For the critics of Russia today, don't mix things, people and politicians. We maybe don't like politicians (they are temporarily on power) and some people, but we can all find friends in all countries of the world. Boats are great place to find some, because we are all stuck on board for several hours usually and nowhere to go else... So we can decide to go meet people!

^^
+1

I couldn't agree any more :okay: Russia has really rich and interesting history & culture and St-Petersburg is a real jewel on Baltic Sea. Hopefully similar visa agreements,like Finns will have,will be reached with other countries aswell,allowing us to explore Russia. :) Sadly currently main trouble of travelling to Russia are problems with visas & long border crossing times,hopefully this will change one day.

I guess Finns use trains to get to Saint-Petersburg in few hours.

^ Very right. with that new train launch (Helsinki - Saint Petersburg express) the situation changed a bit. But still ferry is a way better pleasure for calm travellers! ;)

According to Port Of Tallinn,former C-terminal on Admirality Basin (in front of Old Town) will be used as yacht harbour & sailing club. Terminal has not been used for few years (it closed doors after Nordic Jet Line shut down it's operations) The new Vanasadama yacht club will open it's doors in this year,early May. Yacht club will have floating piers with 64 pier places for up to 60 foot long yachts.

Maybe we see super rich & their yachts in Tallinn more often :D

Tallinn's Old Town yacht club is up & running. Here's few photos of it (btw,this makes situation with passenger terminal names quite odd - we now have A,B and D terminals :D)

http://i50.tinypic.com/2410z9g.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/mcpxdt.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2moshkx.jpg



And photo of cruise ship quay,taken today (19th May, 4 pm)
\/
'MSC Opera' in the background,'Empress' in the front.
http://i48.tinypic.com/b4exie.jpg

NFV8otGdDR4

A video about Port of Tallinn, in case anyone's interested.

^^
I didn't know Estonia is THAT small: "only 45 thousand square meters". :D