A modern terminal for cruise ships in the Port of Klaipėda : New space for the city and opportunities for maritime tourism
KLAIPEDA : A new cruise ship terminal will be developed at the central part of Klaipėda where existing quays will be reconstructed, new quays will be built, and the depths will be adapted to the new needs. The new terminal will also include an administrative building. A building permit has already been obtained for this project.
“The new cruise ship terminal project will not only increase the capacity of the Port of Klaipėda to accommodate more cruise ships and tourists but will also create a new space for the city. This project is a long-term investment in Klaipėda’s future and its international attractiveness”, says Algis Latakas, Director General of Klaipėda Port Authority.
The new cruise ship terminal area will also become a new attraction for Klaipėda residents and visitors. It will create an attractive venue for the events, an open amphitheater oriented towards the water, pedestrian and cycling paths.
The Port Authority’s administrative building’s ground floor will have cafés and a conference room, and a rooftop observation deck. A new marina for recreational ships is planned to be built next to it to address the current shortage of space.
The design of the new cruise ship terminal was finalised at the end of last year. The project was prepared by UAB “Statybos inžinierių konsultantų biuras” (Office of Consulting Structural Engineers) on the basis of the winning entry in the architectural competition, the authors of the project are Private Limited Company “Architektūros linija” and Small partnership “Devyni plius architektai” Gintaras Čaikauskas (project manager), Andrius Keizikas, Arnas Deltuva, Martynas Lukas, Miroslaw Szejnycki.
Screening procedures for a possible environmental impact assessment were completed in July this year. The Environmental Protection Agency has decided that an environmental impact assessment is not required for these works.
Apart from the pandemic period that brought cruise shipping to a standstill, Klaipėda does not have enough space to berth cruise ships. Every year the Port Authority has to say “no” to about 10 cruise ships wishing to call in Klaipėda just because of the lack of space, so a decision was taken to build a new quay to accommodate even more cruise ships and foreign tourists.
The project will be carried out in two phases: the first phase will involve the reconstruction and extension of existing quays in poor and unsatisfactory condition and the construction of new quays needed to form the terminal, as well as water area dredging works. The second phase will include the construction and installation of utilities, landscaping, and the construction of an administration building. The new cruise ship terminal project is expected to take around three years to complete.
Next year, the Port of Klaipėda will welcome more than 60 cruise ships. The first one should arrive in February.