The history of Klaipeda seaport started already the summer of year 1252 when the Curonian bishop and the vice-regent of Livonian Order signed the agreement about Klaipeda. This agreement was approved by the ruler of Lithuania, Mindaugas (one year before he was crowned King of Lithuania). Following this agreement Klaipeda Castle was built. In the small port neighboring the castle, vessels of Lubeck and Bremen merchants used to moor.

In the middle of the 16th century Klaipeda rivals, the inhabitants of Danzig, overloaded the Dane port with stones (!), therefore till 1820 only small vessels could call the port. 

In 1743 the first timber trade office was founded in Klaipeda, and the port became the most famous timber trading port in the Baltic Sea.

The chronicle of 1797 mentions that Klaipeda port consists of the Dane river port and a big water basin in the strait of the Curonian Lagoon. Timber was handled in the port, accommodating more than 300 vessels at a time.

The period of 1924-1939 was a period when Klaipeda port was at its flourishing peak – new quays were constructed and various companies started to operate, Lithuanian Shipping Company was founded, and the young state of Lithuania invested into the development of the port not less than 42 million litas.

In 1963 the first renewed Sea Festival took place. Today this festival has become the most important public event in Klaipeda.

In 1986 the new International Ferry Terminal was constructed. The Terminal was constructed for serving Soviet Army, located in Germany, and the biggest-in-the- world rail-ferries started to operate.

On June 3, 1991, following the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications, the state enterprise Klaipeda State Seaport Authority was founded and since 1993 it started managing the state-owned port infrastructure.

Klaipeda State Seaport is the northernmost ice–free port on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is the most important and biggest Lithuanian transport hub, connecting sea, land and railway routes from East to West.

Klaipeda is a multipurpose, universal, deep-water port, providing high quality services. 15 big stevedoring companies, ship repair and ship building yards operate within the port as well as all types of marine business and cargo handling services.

The annual port cargo handling capacity is up to 40 million tons.

The shortest distances connect the port with the most important industrial regions of the Eastern hinterland (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine etc.). The main shipping lines to the ports of Western Europe, South-East Asia and the continent of America pass through Klaipeda port.

The port operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.

IMPORTANT
More than 800 economic agents are directly related to the operations of the port of Klaipėda. The port and the enterprises related to its operations provide more than 23,000 jobs and 4.5% of the Lithuanian GDP. Because of the port operations, approximately 185,000 jobs are created. The port of Klaipėda is directly or indirectly related to 18% of Lithuania’s total GDP. 

ICE-FREE
An ice-free port that does not freeze even during very cold winters guarantees smooth traffic and uninterrupted stevedoring operations. As the port of Klaipėda is situated at the junction of international transport corridors, it is a bridge between the Commonwealth of Independent States and the countries of Asia, the European Union and other markets.

MODERN
Between 1993 and 2006 the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority and the stevedoring companies operating in the port allotted 2 billion Litas (600 million Euro) for its modernization. 1 billion 215 million Litas (350 million Euro) should be invested in the years 2008 to 2013.
The Klaipėda port is rapidly developing and sets out ambitious plans for further expansion

DEEP-WATER
The depth of the entrance channel is 15 meters. The depth of the port navigation channel is between 13 and 14.5 meters.   Therefore, the port can accept large-tonnage vessels: dry-cargo vessels up to 80,000 DWT, and tankers up to 150,000 DWT.

In 2004 the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a prefeasibility study on Klaipeda State Seaport development. 

INTERMODAL
The port of Klaipėda is the leader among the ports of the Baltic Sea in terms of container handling. Its well-coordinated operations of sea and hinterland transport, the Free Economic Zone (FEZ), the EU short-sea shipping network, and the wide-range operation of logistic and industrial enterprises ensure the operations of intermodal transport.
An innovative logistic product in the Baltic States, the container and contrailer train Viking,connects the markets of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea regions from the port of Klaipėda per Minsk, Kiev to the ports of Odessa and Ilyichevsk.

ACTIVE
The port of Klaipėda is a member of four international organizations.
It is a regular organizer and participant in inter-state negotiations on transport matters, and international transport exhibitions and conferences.

SAFE
Requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, Regulation No.725/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council and Directive 2005/65/EC have been implemented in the port terminals, territory and port waters.

INNOVATIVE
The latest information system called KIPIS (‘Creation and introduction of an information system for cargo and commodities shipped via Klaipėda State Seaport’) speeds up cargo traffic via the port of Klaipėda, strengthens the competitive advantage of the port, and facilitates the operations of ship’s agents and forwarders. The KIPIS system ensures the exchange of electronic data between businesses and institutions operating in the port during the course of cargo-handling procedures.
The port operates a GIS (geographic information system), which enables users to use geographic data and facilitate the provision of information efficiently.   

CERTIFIED
The operations of Klaipėda State Seaport Authority are certified in compliance with the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Certificate and the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Protection Management Certificate.

KLAIPEDA PORT RECORDS

THE LONGEST QUAY in Klaipėda port, Quay no. 144, is 460 meters long.

The Quay No. 143 is designed for highest (maximum) loads. 

VESSELS

THE LARGEST CRUISE LINER – length 294 m, width 32.2 m and draught 8.3 m – was the vessel “Constellation” sailing under the flag of Bahamas called at Klaipėda port for the first time on the 1^st of June 2005.

THE LARGEST TANKER – was the vessel “Tour” (length 274.47 m, width 48.04 m, draught 17.022 m) first berthed in Klaipeda port on 10^th of March 2008.

THE WIDEST CONTAINERSHIP WITH THE LARGEST CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY  – was the vessel “MSC Fortunate”  (length 274,67 m, width 40 m, draught 14 m, maximum TEU capacity - 5551) – berthed in Klaipėda port on 1^th of March 2011. 

THE LONGEST CONTAINER SHIP - was the vessel “MSC Sariska”  (length 294,12 m, width 32,28 m, draught 13,5 m, maximum TEU capacity - 4814)  – berthed in Klaipėda port on 23^th of May 2011. 

THE LARGEST RO-RO SHIP – was the vessel „Hoegh Delhi“ (length 199.9 m, width 32.26 m and draught 8.81 m) first berthed in Klaipėda port on 26^th of November 2009.

THE LARGEST QUANTITY OF TRANSPORTED CARGO – 91 779.86 t – by the tanker “Isi Olive” (length 274 m, width 48 m, draught 15.22 m), which entered Klaipėda port on 22^nd of August 2008.

THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS – 77 832.079 t – by the bulk carrier “Aghios Makarios“ (length 228.6 m, width 43 m, draught 12.85 m), departed from Klaipėda port on 20 of January 2010.

The largest number of cruise ships – 65 CRUISERS arrived in 2007.

The record annual NUMBER OF VESSELS – 8348 ships called at Klaipėda port in 2008.

The largest number of VESSELS per month – 872 ships visited our port in September 2008.

PORT GUESTS

In 2010 Klaipėda city was visited by the largest number of PASSENGERS – 320 991.

The largest number of passengers per month was recorded in August 2007 – 49 183 tourists.

In 2007 cruise ships brought the largest number of TOURISTS to Klaipeda port – 36 866.

In August 2007 cruise ships brought the largest number of passengers per month – 11 745 tourists. 

CARGO TURNOVER

The highest annual CARGO TURNOVER was recorded in Klaipėda port in2010 – 31.277 million tons.

The highest cargo turnover per month was recorded in May 2011 – 3.25 million tons.

The highest annual TURNOVER of LITHUANIAN CARGO was recorded in the port in 2010 – 18.75 million tons.

The highest annual TURNOVER of TRANSIT CARGO was recorded in the port in 1993 – 13.24 million tons.

The record for annual turnover of FERTILIZERS was recorded in 2010 – 8.66 million tons.

The highest turnover of FERTILIZERS per month was recorded in May 2011 – 1.054 million tons.

The record for annual turnover of OIL PRODUCTS was achieved in 2008 - 9.36 million tons.

The biggest volume of oil products handled per month was recorded inJanuary 2009 – 952.54 thousand tons.

The record of annual turnover of CONTAINERS was achieved in 2008 – 373 263 TEU.

The largest number of containers per month was recorded in May 2011 – 46 627 TEU.

The highest annual turnover of RO-RO CARGO (including rail wagons) was recorded in 2010 - 228 730 units.

The record figures in monthly turnover of Ro-Ro cargoes (including rail wagons) was achieved in May 2011 – 22 603 units.