Cargo turnover at Ventspils port in Q1 returns to the level of 2010
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 11.04.2011.
Ventspils Port has handled 7.16 million tons of cargo in the first quarter of 2011 – 0.67% less than in the respective period last year, as the port's marketing manager, Inga Ievina, told LETA.
In March, the port significantly improved the overall statistics for the first quarter. In the first two months, the decrease on the respective period last year was 3%, whereas in January the port even reported a 20.76% drop year-on-year.
In March, Ventspils Port's cargo turnover reached 3.07 million tons – 866,000 tons more than in February and 522,000 tons more than in March 2010. The port last handled more than 3 million tons in a month in March 2007 (3.12 million tons), and last time before that – in April 2002 (3.20 million tons).
Oil products accounted for the most par of cargo turnover at the Port of Ventspils in March – 1.47 million tons. The port also reloaded 688,000 tons of coal and 413,000 tons of mineral fertilizers.
180 ships entered in March, or 18 ships more than in March 2010. Altogether in the first three months this year, 463 ships visited the port, or 17 more than in the respective period last year.
In the first quarter, Ventspils Port handled 3.94 million tons of liquid cargo, 2.59 million of bulk cargo and 634,000 tons of general cargo. Although the port's total cargo turnover in the first quarter decreased 2.27% from the first quarter of 2010, in March a new record volume of bulk cargo was registered at the port – 1.31 million tons. The previous record for the volume of bulk cargo reloaded at the port was in February 2005 – 1.01 million tons.
Cargo turnover at Freeport of Riga increased by 7.5% in 3 months
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 11.04.2011.
Riga Freeport handled 7.67 million tons of cargo during the first three months of the year 2011, which is 7.5% more than over the same period last year, the port informed LETA.
The amount of general cargo grew 8.4% to 1.42 millions tons.
There was also a 22.5% increase in liquid cargo, reaching 2.04 million tons.
On the other hand, there was a 1.3% increase in bulk cargo, reaching 4.2 million tons.
Liepaja Port cargo turnover grew by 18.4% in 3 months
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 08.04.2011.
Liepaja Port handled 1,192,952 tons of cargo during the first three months of the year 2011, which is 18.4% more than over the same period last year, as Liepaja Special Economic Zone's public relations manager Liga Ratniece-Kadege informed LETA.
General cargo made up the largest part of the cargo turnover at Liepaja Port.
In the first three months of the year, Liepaja Port handled 565,200 tons of general cargo, which is a 42.9% increase when compared to the first quarter of 2010. The amount of general cargo increased thanks to growing amounts of timber, scrap metal, ferrous metals, ro-ro cargo handled at the port, as well as Liepaja-Travemunde ferry line.
447,900 tons of bulk cargo and 179,800 tons of liquid cargo were handled at the port in the first quarter of the year.
Altogether, 433,322 tons of cargo was handled at Liepaja Port in March. 133 ships and 1,560 passengers visited the port.
The largest amount of cargo was handled by the Liepajas Osta LM company in the first three months – 417,776 tons of cargo, which is 42.4% more when compared to the first three months of 2010.
Klaipeda Port in March posted the highest container handling turnover throughout the overall history
Danuta Pavilenene, BC, Vilnius, 07.04.2011.
In March 2011 Klaipėda Port handled 2,94 million tons of seaborn cargo. i.e. more by 13,3% than in March of 2010. Like the first two month of this year March of 2011 featured one more new Port record – the number of containers handled in this month was the biggest throughout the overall history of the Port. Even 38.116 TEU of containers were handled in March, informs BC Marketing Department of the port.
Cargo handling in 2010 and 2011 in March, in tons
| Cargo | Volumes | Change in %. |
| 03 of 2010 | 03 of 2011 |
| Totally | 2 596 959,2 | 2 942 681,0 | +13,3 |
| Liquefied cargoes | 837 813,4 | 745 461,0 | -11,0 |
| Dry and bulk cargoes | 891 468,8 | 1 146 238,6 | +28,6 |
| General cargoes | 867 677,0 | 1 050 981,4 | +21,1 |
|
| Containerised cargoes (TEU) | 23 785 | 38 116 | +60,3 |
| Ro-ro cargoes (pcs.) | 18 354 | 21 724 | +18,4 |
| Ships | 480 | 584 | +21,7 |
| Passenger | 16 136 | 18 949 | +17,4 |
| Būtingės terminal | 405 320,6 | 499 636,5 | +23,3 |
According to cargo groups in March:
Dry and bulk cargoes increased by +28,6 pct., totally 1 146,2 thousand tons were handled.
General cargoes increased by +21,1 pct., totally 1 051,0 thousand tons were handled.
Liquefied cargoes decreased by –11,0 pct., totally 745,5 thousand tons were handled.
In terms of the types of handled cargo the highest growing rates were recorded in containerised and Ro – Ro cargo sector. Ro – Ro cargo handling volumes successfully maintain growing tendencies calculating both in tons and units. 433,5 thousand tons, i.e. more by 16,9%, or by 62,7 thousand tons were handled in March of 2011. Calculating in units 21 724 units, i.e. more by 18,4% or by 3 370 units were handled comparing with March of the previous year.
In March of this year containerised cargo handling volumes (calculating in TEU) were 38 116 TEU, i.e. more by 60,3% if to compare with the corresponding month of 2010. In terms of tonnage the turnover of containerised cargo handling increased as well. Calculating in tons the growth was 31,7% 422,5 thousand tons were handled.
In March of this year 18 949 thousand passengers, i.e. more by 17,4%, or by 2 813 passengers than during the corresponding month of 2010, visited Klaipėda Port.
584 ships, i.e. more by 21,7% or by 104 ships comparing with the corresponding month of the previous year called Klaipėda port in March of 2011.
Lithuania deep-sea port to be built near Klaipeda or Butinge
Danuta Pavilenene, BC, Vilnius, 07.04.2011.
Klaipeda deep-sea port may be situated near Klaipeda or Butinge, Transport Minister Eligijus Masiulis said on Wednesday.
According to the minister, at present, the EU-funded second feasibility study on deep-water port is underway, and this year consultants will recommend several sites for the port. Masiulis said that the Cabinet modified the Government's resolution and commissioned the Transport Ministry to approve the action plan for the construction of Klaipeda deep-sea port by 1 July 2011, informs LETA/ELTA.
Masiulis said that feasibility studies would be completed by the end of this year and expected to move to a specific plan for implementing technical solutions afterwards.
"We will have such a plan by July of next year, and then it will be possible to talk about specific investments," the transport minister told reporters after the Government's sitting.
Ferry line between Ust Luga and Baltijsk ports, bypassing Lithuania, starts operation
Danuta Pavilenene, BC, Vilnius, 05.04.2011.
Possibilities of cargo transportation by ferries between Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions bypassing Lithuania receive more and more favorable assessment in Russia, the sea news portal Jura reports.
The ferry line between Ust Luga and Baltijsk ports, bypassing Lithuania, is now operating. This route is used by the rail ferry "Baltiysk" and "St. Petersburg". The biggest problem is that the ferries are adapted to carry cargo rather than passengers. Taken together, they can take only about 130 passengers, writes LETA/ELTA.
The company – Russian Ferry Lines plans to open a high-speed ferry route between Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg.
A ferry is currently being built in Norway, which is going to transport 64 trucks and 1200 passengers. The trip would take about 14 hours.
It has been reported that the company planning to purchase the high-speed catamaran-type ferry fleet already owns a plot in St. Petersburg, where the ferry wharf will be built. At the moment, the company is also looking for a suitable plot in the port of Kaliningrad.
So far, there are no reliable data about the fact when the high-speed ferries will begin flying between Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions.
Vähi: Silmet’s money will build a major port in Sillamäe
Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 05.04.2011.
The revenues from selling rare earths plant Silmet will enable to develop the Sillamäe port into a major port and create hundreds of new jobs in the town, the previous majority owner of Silmet Tiit Vähi said, as reported by LETA/National Broadcasting.
U.S. company Molycorp announced on Monday that it bought 90.023% of North East Estonian rare earths company AS Silmet. The value of the transaction is around 89 million dollars or 62 million euros.
Vähi said in an interview to ETV that the majority of the revenues from selling the shares will be invested in other projects in Sillamäe, mainly in the local port and heating and energy production. Vähi said that the development of the Sillamäe port will be very positive. “We will certainly become, in the near future, in 3-5 years, the big port of the region, where practically all groups of goods are represented and most likely ferry and passenger transport too,” he said.
Vähi said that the Silmet plant will be preserved and new jobs in addition to the current 500 will be created.
Vähi said that at least as big an amount of jobs would be created in the port and Sillamäe heating and power plant.
Silmet Grupp kept a stake of 9.977% of Silmet. 51% of Silmet Grupp belongs to OÜ Valga Group, the major owner of which is Estonia’s ex-prime minister Tiit Vähi. Silmet Grupp includes also Sillamäe heating and power plant, AS ÖkoSil, AS Silmet Real Estate and AS Sillamäe Port.
St Petersburg- Stockholm-Tallinn ship route opened
Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 04.04.2011.
On Sunday, a regular ship route between St Petersburg, Stockholm and Tallinn was opened, LETA/National Broadcasting reports.
The only regular ship connection between Estonia and Russia will take place once a week, on Sundays. The route is serviced by St Peterline company’s "Princess Anastasia" sailing under the flag of Malta.
AS Tallinna Sadam board chairman Ain Kaljurand said that while initially Russian citizens are expected to be the main customers of the route, Estonians can also now visit St Petersburg and its vicinity comfortably especially since EU citizens can be in St Petersburg visa-free for 72 hours when travelling by ship. Cars and trucks can avoid traffic jams and long waiting lines at the border.
St Peterline`s CEO Igor Gluhhov said that St Peterline’s ship will visit Tallinn just once a week now but if the route is successful, the frequency can be increased.
79 cruise ships could dock at the Riga Freeport in 2011
Alla Petrova, BC, Riga, 03.04.2011.
Approximately 79 cruise ships could dock at the Riga Freeport in 2011, which would be 15 more when compared to last year, the Riga Freeport informs.
On the other hand, the total number of passengers could increase to 60,000, compared to 58,564 passengers last year, writes LETA.
Last year, a third of all cruise ship passengers visiting Riga were from Germany.
