Klaipėda Port launches first works on €1 bn southern expansion

Site preparation kicks off in the south

Port Technology reports that the Port of Klaipėda has started the initial works for its largest expansion project to date. Earth‑moving and clearing operations are now underway on the southern side of the harbour, where a new port area will be created over the coming years.

The Maritime Executive notes that this marks the transition from lengthy planning to tangible construction activity, with the first earthworks already visible on site.

Tender award and construction timetable

According to Marine Insight, the contract for the new southern breakwaters was awarded to Swedish contractor Tilsta after a competitive tender earlier in the year. The agreement is valued at €24.5 million excluding VAT, and Tilsta is expected to commence building the structures this autumn.

The same source adds that the breakwater works constitute the first stage of the overall expansion, laying the physical foundation for subsequent terminal and berth developments.

Financial scale and strategic aims

Nearly €600 million of the Port’s 2026‑2029 investment programme is earmarked for the southern extension, while additional capital from private investors will push the total value beyond the €1 billion threshold. This makes the scheme one of Lithuania’s largest infrastructure projects.

Algis Latakas, CEO of the Klaipėda Port Authority, said that the development will “make the country more attractive to investors, strengthen our competitiveness in international markets and support military mobility needs that are important not only for Lithuania but for the wider region.” The Maritime Executive echoes this sentiment, highlighting the project’s role in bolstering both commercial traffic and defence logistics.

Environmental considerations

The new breakwaters will also serve an environmental function. Marine Insight explains that their design will help limit the inflow of salt water into the Curonian Lagoon, thereby protecting a sensitive coastal ecosystem while still providing safe harbour conditions.

Related port projects

In parallel with the expansion, Container News notes that the Klaipėda Port Authority has commissioned the design of a new marina adjacent to the under‑construction cruise terminal. The facility is planned to accommodate around 85 leisure vessels ranging from 10 to 20 metres in length.

What this means for operators

For ship owners and liner companies, the southern expansion promises additional berths and deeper water access, potentially allowing larger cargo carriers to call at Klaipėda. Operators should monitor construction schedules closely, as autumn breakwater works may temporarily affect navigational channels in the vicinity. In the medium term, the increased capacity and improved hinterland connections are expected to reduce dwell times and enhance the port’s attractiveness for Baltic trade routes.