Sea

© Vidmantas Matutis photo

Spausdinti   Supplement to article

Captain Juozas Liepuonius sailing to Tunisia has recently visited the port of Liepaja. The vessel was loaded with 26 thousand tons of agricultural products. In Liepaja, Silku St., there is a newly built bulk cargo terminal. Near the new terminal is located old and isolated Soviet military town.

“It seems that time has stopped in this area for 25 years: empty houses, deserted streets and poor local market. Sometime ago upon arriving into this area, you were warned by the signs “welcome to the Soviet Union,” – writes Mr. Liepuonius.

The whole port is also dirty and full of trash, reminding of African ports. Liepaja is the third port in Latvia after Riga and Ventspils. Municipal Liepaja port takes 370 ha territory and has 810 hectares of water territory. Near the port, there are an industrial area of 542 hectares and the territory of former military town of 2000 hectares. Liepaja free economic zone, which includes its Port Authority, are looking for investors for huge free port and surrounding areas. However, people are reluctant to invest into these territories. Liepaja port has a depth of 10.5 meters and is one of the shallowest in the Baltic Sea region. It will be deepened this year up to 12 meters using the EU funds. Liepaja port managed to handle 4.5 thousand tons of cargo. Its cargo handling increase in 2010 was by 10 per cent. Now, the port is one of the smallest ports in the region because Klaipeda, Riga, Tallinn, Ventspils and Silameja handle more cargo.