The logical question rose a few years ago for the need of a deep water port in Melnrage is asked again when plans for Butinge deep water port were presented. Such a question freezes the discussion again: why to build and invest money for new port somewhere in the sea, while all the similar functions can be performed in the existing port?

Want bigger ships

The head and professor of Klaipeda University Maritime Faculty and Department Vytautas Palauskas claimed that it is more important to properly use the existing facilities of Klaipeda Port. The port has good roads, well-developed infrastructure and huge cargo loading capacities. He agreed with the opinion of cargo handling companies that the existing port of Klaipeda could be developed to meet the needs to accept Post Panamax type of bulk cargo ships and tankers, also Post Panamax Plus container ships. Post Panamax type bulk carriers and tankers are coming to Klaipeda Port. Bulk cargo vessels are between 225 to 270 meters in length, having the maximum draft of 14,2 to 14,5 meters. Post Panamax tankers of 240-260 meters in length have the highest draft from 14,5 to 15 meters.

Both Klaipeda Oil and the Stevedoring Company KLASCO have adopted Post Panamax ships, but they are leaving the port only half-loaded. So far, the Klaipeda Port was not visited by the largest Post Panamax container ships. Their length is up to 320 meters and have 13 to 13,5 meters draft. Post Panamax Plus container ships are from 330 to 360 meters long and 42-48 meters wide. Their highest draft is 14,5 meters. These ships can carry over 10 thousand of TEU containers.

Now, the largest container ship ever to be accepted in Klaipeda Port was of less than 300 meters in length. Its unloaded cargo was slightly more than 1 000 TEUs. The director of Klaipeda Smelte Rimantas Juska claimed that his company has already ordered cranes able to handle Post Panamax Plus containers. Another question is when such vessels will be able to enter the Klaipeda Port.

According to Mr. Paulauskas, such an opportunity could be implemented, if the port would proceed with its development. Currently, it is being modeled on computers how ships of 300 meters length will proceed to Bega and 360 meters of length ships will go to Klaipeda Smelte.

Ask for studies

Post Panamax type of ships require 150 meters in width navigation channel with a depth of 16 meters and the depth in gate area of about 16,5 meters. The width of port gate channel should be 200-220 meters. These requirements are also needed for bigger Post Panamax type of vessels. Currently, the port of Klaipeda does not meet these requirements. In the short run, some measures to deepen the port will be taken, extending its shipping channel from 125 meters up to 150 meters. Maximum depth of the shipping channel will be 14,5 meters and on the port gate it will reach 15 meters. Where can we get two more meters?

The only solution is to continue deepening of the port. Some time ago, researchers said that the greatest way to deepen the existing port of Klaipeda is in its northern part up to 14,5 meters and in the southern part 13 meters. Now, the recommendations are taken for granted in the southern part. Here the port is dredged to 13,5 meters and is about to reach 14,5 meters.

Theoretically, it is possible to deepen the port up to 16,5 meters. However, before doing so, an environmental impact assessment should be carried out. It will answer the question of whether to continue to deepen or not. The Association of Lithuanian Stevedoring Companies took initiative and asked Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority to order the study-assessment for possible dredging of Klaipeda Port. At the same time, it is asked to investigate the current cargo freight and storing capacities of the port. Some time ago, the study for rail freight was carried out. The representatives of Lithuanian railways stated that due to the developments by the year 2015, it will be possible to transport to port 50 million tons of cargo.

New big works wait

In order to receive big Post Panamax Plus ships, it is not enough only to dredge and deepen the canal. Additional widening of rotation circles is also needed. Now, the port has three of such circles, near KLASCO, Bega and Klaipeda Smelte.

Near KLASCO and Bega, the turning circles should be no less than 550 meters in length and 390 meters in width, and, near Klaipeda Smelte, 75 meter in length and 600 meters in width. The port gate should be redone and reconstructed. Its width in the bottom should be 220 meters. The study for environmental assessment should be able to answer whether in the case of widening the shipping channel, new interlocking wall needs to be built. For the time being, only theoretical estimations of such works exist and no economical calculations have been done in order to find out how much the reconstruction of port gates could cost.

Klaipeda State Sea Port Managing Director Eugenijus Gentvilas does not believe that a long delay for decision on how to further develop the existing port could be useful. If it is decided to deepen the port to 16-16,5 meters, the embankments should be designed and built to meet the new parameters. Further development of the port, according to Eugenijus Gentvilas is associated with deep-water port construction. Experts say that Lithuania will have a deep-water port around the year 2023. However, the prediction is based on the outputs of 14,5 meters depth in the current port. If the port reaches 16-16,5 meters in depth, the need to build deep-water port could be delayed for at least another decade.