Final ceremony of completion of the port railway development project

 

On 9 October 2008 at 10 ⁰⁰ a.m., at the territory of LKAB Klaipėdos Smeltė (Nemuno g. 24) there will take place a formal opening ceremony of the projects construction of railroads on the “Nemunas” road network, straightening of Highway 201, and reconstruction of “Perkėlos” road network. Participation at the ceremony will include Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevičius, who will deliver a speech, and Vytautas Rinkevičius, Head of Klaipeda County, Sigitas Dobilinskas, General Director of the State Enterprise Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, Stasys Dailydka, Genral Direcot of the company AB Lietuvos geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways), Martinas Gusiatinas, President of LKAB Klaipėdos Smeltė, as well as representatives of the companies involved in the mentioned projects.

 

 

Taking into account a continuous growth of cargo flows in the port of Klaipeda, the facilities for cargo carriage inwards and outwards should be enhanced, i.e., reconstruction and extension of access motor roads and especially railroads should be carried out (since as much as 80 percent of the total cargo flow comes and leaves the port by railway transport).

 

Total price of the project Reconstruction of the southern section of the railways of the Klaipeda State Seaport on the stretch from Varnėnų to Nevėžio streets is equal to LTL 26,315 million.  The project is partially financed through 2004-2006 EU funds: the total project price (26,315 million Litas) includes about LTL 15,237 million from the European Union funds (50 percent) and the State budget funding (50 percent proc.), the rest funding, 11,078 million Litas, comes from the Port Authority budget.  The project is implemented by contractors AB Klaipėdos kranai and UAB Hidrostatyba.

 

Within the scope of this project, 5 railroad branches were built on the Nemunas network totalling 3,3 kilometre length.  For the purpose of implementation of this project, the Port Authority managed to come to agreement with the owners regarding the price of buy out of the buildings, which hindered the development of the road network.  Thereby, several buildings have been purchased, written-off and demolished.  Besides, engineering and communication networks have been reconstructed, transferred and newly built.

 

The newly built road network has a paramount importance for the port: it has improved the condition of access railroads in the southern part of the port, and made simpler and significantly expanded receipt of freight by rail at the companies LKAB Klaipėdos Smeltė, UAB Birių krovinių terminalas (Bulk Cargo Terminal) and UAB Šaldytuvų terminalas (Refrigerator Terminal). Prior to construction of this road network, LKAB Klaipėdos Smeltė was capable of keeping simultaneously about 50 railcars in its territory.   Following implementation of the project, the new network alone is capable of accommodating about 126 railcars.   

 

      Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevičius, during his visit at the port of Klaipeda, will also take interest in the progress of preparation of the technical design for the monument to perished Lithuanian seamen and shipwrecked vessels. The State Enterprise Klaipeda State Seaport Authority and associated stevedoring, shipping, shipbuilding and ship repair companies intend to implement the idea proposed by the Lithuanian marine journalist club Marinus and erect the monument dedicated to the perished Lithuanian seamen and shipwrecked vessels.  For the purpose of implementation of this idea, the sea bird albatross, symbol of courage and freedom, was chosen. Plaques constituting the monument will include names of seamen, sailors, fishermen, yachtsmen and vessels that who went to sea and never returned.

      A working group has been organised for implementation of this idea, which will be headed by Algirdas Butkevičius, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania.

 

 

 

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