Capital Dredging is Gaining Speed at Klaipeda Seaport

Last week capital dredging works of Klaipeda Seaport navigation channel are to be launched, Port of Klaipeda says in its press release. They are to start from quay No. 9 and finish by the Seaport gates. Capital dredging works shall be finished in autumn, it is planned to excavate approx. 300 thou. cubic metres of soil. The Seaport navigation channel will be deepened by half of the metre – from 14,5 to 15 metres. These capital dredging works are performed by the top Australian construction company „Strabag“. According to representatives of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority these works are the first step towards the depth up to 17 metres in Klaipeda Seaport.

„In order to remain competitive and to accommodate large vessels it is vitally necessary to have appropriate depths both in navigation channel and nearby the quays. By now the largest vessel entering the Seaport of Klaipeda was 317 metres in length vessel „ Celebrity Eclipse“. Already next week the new record of the largest and the longest vessel will be set. On the 4th of June the 324,8 metres in length container carrier „MSC Charleston“ will call our Seaport“, told Director General of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority Arvydas Vaitkus.

Capital dredging works of Port navigation channel in the Northern part of the Seaport have just started, meanwhile maintenance dredging works have already gained high speed. Maintenance dredging works in the Southern part of the Seaport are being performed by one of the world’s largest capital and maintenance dredging companies „Jan De Nul N.V“. This Belgian company has been performing works in Klaipeda Seaport for the first time. The scope of planned works is 600 thou. cubic metres of sediments. The Belgian company committed to remove sediments occurring due to natural processes from the Seaport waters‘ territory bed within navigation channel section of 13 kilometres in length.

„ Because of maintenance dredging works the Floating storage and regasification unit “Independance“ was temporally moved from its constant place. The works were executed extremely rapidly and smoothly, this territory has been already cleaned and the vessel has been returned to her place. Presently the company „Jan De Nul N.V“ is continuing its works nearby Smelt? vessel turning circle. We are delighted with such timeliness and high quality work,“ told Klaipeda Seaport representatives.

The Port intends to invest up till 2018 332,7 mln Euros to capital dredging of quay approaches and their adaptation to channel allowing large vessels to enter successfully the Port and more here.