The contours of the future Cruise Ship Terminal are rapidly becoming visible in Klaipėda Port. As the new space emerging from the water began to take shape, a capsule containing a letter to future generations was laid into the foundations of the future quay during a solemn ceremony on the water – a symbol of the new space that will connect the port and the city.
"The Cruise Ship Terminal rising in Klaipėda is a significant step in strengthening Lithuania's connection with the world. It's our opportunity to be even more visible, even more accessible. At the same time, it will be a new attraction – for both local residents and guests of the port city. This is just the beginning, as we will ensure further port growth – we are intensively preparing for the development of the southern part of the port," states Minister of Transport Juras Taminskas.
The new Cruise Ship Terminal will not only open Lithuania's gates to the world even wider and invite visitors to discover Lithuania, but will also become an important public space.
"For some time now, we could hear in the city what felt like the heartbeat of the nascent new terminal, like the search for the rhythm of a future symphony. This is a time that demands endurance, but also fosters growth and opens up more opportunities for the port, Klaipėda, and all of Lithuania. Today, we are all witnesses to the creation of the future. The land emerging from the port's waters is being born for all of us, and it will become a space that will constantly invite people to come and be where ships and people, water and the city meet," says Algis Latakas, Director General of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.
The symbolic capsule with a letter to future generations, laid into the new quay under construction, marks the accelerating construction of the new space for the port and the city. In March of this year, "Tilsta," the company implementing the project, completed work on the old quays, which will become part of the new terminal and where work began first. Currently, intensive work is underway both on reconstructing existing quays and forming an entirely new territory – the essential sheet piling installation works for the new terminal are nearing completion.
"We are delighted and proud to contribute to this significant project, not only for Klaipėda but for all of Lithuania. This is a technologically very interesting and complex object. A large part of the work is invisible to the public because it is carried out underwater. Working underwater, where advanced technologies and exceptional professional competencies are required, is a great recognition and responsibility for us. We aim for the infrastructure we create to reliably serve both port operations and the public for many decades," says Ernestas Stonys, Project Director of UAB "Tilsta."
The new Cruise Ship Terminal is important for the Klaipėda Port Authority to accommodate the ever-growing flow of cruise ships wishing to enter Klaipėda Port. Next year, over 100 cruise ships have already expressed their desire to travel to Lithuania by sea, and the number of ships may grow even further in the future, making it necessary to increase Klaipėda Port's capacity. The newly developed complex will also feature a port control center, or the heart of Klaipėda Port, from which all port life will be coordinated – from strategic decisions to daily operations. The construction of the building has been entrusted to the company "KRS," which plans to begin initial works soon.
"Lithuania is a maritime nation, and this object embodies its future vision. The port control center will not just be another building – it will be the 'brain' of the port, from which processes will be coordinated, opening new gates for tourism and even contributing to national security. To create such a place, we will use innovative, sustainable, and still rarely encountered technologies in the Lithuanian construction sector. We are proud to take over the baton from our colleagues and become part of this important plan," says Paulius Grigas, CEO of "KRS," the company that will implement the building's construction.
The new terminal will also become an important part of the city's waterfront. Once the terminal is built, it will feature a waterfront amphitheater, pedestrian and cycling paths, recreation areas, and event spaces. The €50.3 million terminal, which will organically integrate into the new spaces developing in the city center, is scheduled for completion in 2027.