When building a terminal for the handling of versatile agricultural products, the stevedoring Company Bega not only invests in their superstructure, but also in the infrastructure of the port. Near the terminal’s warehouses, new roads have been started to be built and the new railway, with a total length of about 1 kilometer, will be made.

Stevedoring Company Bega up to now was able to use only two-thirds of the rented area. Now, the company is implementing a new port complex development and investment program that will help to apply the rest (the north) part of the port’s territory, about 13 ha of land.

The first project of program is nearing its completion. By the end of this year, Stevedoring Company Bega will build a terminal for versatile agricultural products export-import, which capacity will reach more than 2 million tons of bulk agricultural products per year. All-purpose warehouses will be able to store around 160 thousand cubic meters of such goods.

Over the past few years, the company has invested 25 million litas into the preparation of territory, when the old buildings and old networks were demolished. The terminal building will cost 45 million litas and another 25 million will go to the creation of port infrastructure such as the building of railways and the construction of communication networks.

Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority has commissioned the reconstruction of piers No. 66-67, with their extension, the building of piers (berth 66a-67a). These quays will be adapted for bulk goods and handling, being able to moor 13 meters draft (and more) PANAMAX type vessels, carrying up to 70 thousand tons of cargo.

The investments will double the current capacities of Klaipeda Port to handle agricultural products and wide possibilities of the new terminal will expand port’s range: from pulp to cereal, pellets, meal, etc.

Important role for the railway

Stevedoring Company Bega is probably the only company in the port that invests on such a scale not only its superstructure, but also in the port’s infrastructure, building roads and railways. This is done in order to sooner start operation of cargo terminals (which are now under construction) and to accelerate both private and public return on investment.

Currently, Bega operates about 13 kilometers of railways, of which 3 kilometers are built at the company’s expense. It is planned that by the year 2014-2015, the company will have about 19 kilometers of railways, of which 4,5-5 km will be laid using Bega’s investments.

There are 12 stationary (coated) and mobile rail cars for unloading and loading stations and 5 more are being designed or under construction in the company’s territory. They will be able to simultaneously unload up to 50 cars.

Bega is one of the few companies in the port, having its own 6 locomotives and able to maximize the speed of rail service. In total, there are options allowing to process 600 cars per day, but by 2015 this number will increase to 800-1,100 cars per day.

According to Aloyzas Kuzmarskis, CEO of the Stevedoring Company Bega, the role of rail cargo handling process will only increase, especially having in mind that it is not only Bega which as the plans for development but other port companies as well. It is very important to recognize and return to the idea of double track railway from Draugystes station and the southern part of the port realization because it is no longer enough to only have the inside tracks. Otherwise, next year might see increased cargo volumes and the inability to carry cargo by rail. In this form of transport, over 70 per cent of goods are carried to the port.

Universal terminal

Near-completed construction of a new Bega versatile agricultural products export-import terminal will also have both its own railway sidings and a stationary box car loading and unloading post. It will manage to unload 4 cars at the time and 1,200 cubic meters per hour, and load 2 cars.

The station will be equipped with certified scales for commercial billing and all the processes will be automated (by the way, the same post will be able to unload or load heavy motor transport).

In the terminal, cargo will be moving on belt transporters. They are constructed both under the unloading post and warehouses (export), also at the top of warehouses (import) and will connect warehouse with berths, which will have 1,200 tons per hour lifting capacity ship loader and 120 tons lifting capacity crane.

Taken alone new multipurpose agricultural export-import terminal’s handling capacity will grow more than 2 million tons per year. In two joined, about 20 thousand square meters, warehouses will be able to store about 160 thousand cubic meters of bulk goods. If need be, they can be placed in 8 different sections, so as to separate different types of customers or products.

The most important advantage of the terminal is its adaptability both for export and import. When choosing handling equipment technologies, all possible loading schemes were foreseen. In addition, for storages, the company has chosen not silos, but multi-planar warehouses, which will allow handling not only well-crumbling grain, but also a wider range of agricultural products such as cakes, meals, etc.

According to Mr. Kuzmarskis, these solutions are analyzed and formulated by Bega professionals in response to changing market needs, which are relevant not only for grain export or transit from East to West, but also for various other agricultural products and their import or distribution.

After the service of universal terminal for agricultural products will be started, the investments program for the territory’s development for other commodities such as fertilizer, cement, minerals, and materials will be initiated to increase capabilities. It is planned that by 2020 the overall of the Stevedoring Company Bega handling capacity will reach 14 million tons per year.

According to the calculations done a few years ago, it is estimated that one tone of cargo, handled in the Klaipeda Port, benefits Lithuanian economy with 75 litas. Half of the sum goes on rail and road service providers; another half reaches the port and related businesses, duties and taxes.