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© Vidmantas Matutis photo

Spausdinti   Supplement to article

KLASCO has reached outstanding results last year. The company values its employees and keeps their employees’ health issues as its priority.

Working together

The most important thing in the port is profit. In loading process, the profits are generated from tons handled. Over the past two years, Klaipeda Stevedoring Company (KLASCO) has reached a substantial increase in its turnover. Both years were record. In 2010, the handling grew by two million and reached 10.28 million tons. In 2011, the handling grew by three million and reached 13.42 million tons. Ferry cargo grew by 24 per cent, fertilizers 34 per cent and conventional (general) cargo increased in 40 per cent.

“Such an increase in cargo handling as last year is huge in cargo business. We have managed to do what was otherwise impossible. Our employees work was perfect. I want to use the opportunity and give a special thanks to our office of commerce which managed to attract all these goods and for industrial units who worked in loading all the cargo,” – thanked KLASCO Managing Director Audrius Pauza.

The biggest KLASCO turnover was achieved without using old part of its quay, which is under construction; the berths 8 and 9 are being reconstructed.

“We work on the principle to look for our new clients from other countries and we are not stealing clients from other port’s companies. Using such method, we are successful in attracting new companies. Last year, it was 600 thousand tons of metal blocks. This a follow-up load. Believe me, there is a lot of competition for these goods not only among the companies, but also between ports and even countries,” – assured Mr. Pauza.

The fact that KLASCO managed to reach such outstanding results is thanks to Port Authority, Lithuanian Railways, Ministry of Transport and Klaipeda City Municipality. He also mentioned such partners as Achema, Belarus’s Belaruskalij and ferry operator DFDS Seaways. According to Mr. Pauza, despite new recession in Europe and decrease in trade, KLASCO plans to mountain its high levels in 2012.

Plan new investments

In September 2011, KLASCO launched new grain handling capacities. This has given results and grain handling has increased. KLASCO has a capacity to handle even more grain. However, due to the lack of special grain transport wagon shortage in CIS space from Russia to Kazakhstan, there is no opportunity to increase grain transportation. In 2012 KLASCO plans further investments into the renewal of technologies. This year, the company plans to build a new 90 thousand ton capacity fertilizer warehouse. Fertilizers are currently one of the main cargos of KLASCO. The increase was made because fertilizers were started to be loaded into huge PANAMAX class ships. According to Mr. Pauza, the investments into bulk fertilizers’ terminal will reach 50 million LTL. Another investment of the company is superstructure installation in Quay 144. Investments in its network, management engineering, preparation of coatings, and other preparations will be 10 million LTL. The company will gain extra four hectares of land for loading. Now, the company connects these quays by railway lines and there is a growing need for dredging of soil near the berths.

“We have freight traffic for Quay 144. We are going to transfer some of the cargo from the old part of KLASCO. We negotiate two new cargos. While the situation is still unclear, I do not want to elaborate,” – said Mr. Pauza.

It is estimated that the annual turnover of KLASCO could be 20-25 million tons. In order to reach such results, investments are not enough. There is a need for understanding from Port Authority and Lithuanian Railways. KLASCO Managing Director thinks that it is very important to reconstruct Pauostis railway station in the northern part of the port. It is likely that Lithuanian Railways will manage to implement these plans as planned. It is also expected that the reconstruction of berths 8 and 9 will be completed this year and the reconstruction of berths 7 and 8 will be started. The latter should be finished in mid 2013. Six berths, including 4, 5 and 6 (which has a depth of 14.5 meters), will open up new opportunities for KLASCO. KLASCO Company will be developed by its and Achema boards’ ten year plans until 2022. It plans investments of 20-40 million LTL into the company’s development and modernization.