The Port of Klaipėda Welcomes Hundreds of Maritime Industry Leaders

The annual conference and general assembly of the Baltic Ports Organization opens for a two-day event. This year, the Port of Klaipėda has been entrusted to host the event. Klaipėda, which for the next few days may be considered the epicentre of the latest maritime industry trends and innovations, has attracted over 200 participants—port managers, decision-makers, and maritime industry representatives from 13 foreign countries. In terms of both the number of participants and speakers, this is the largest conference ever held by the Baltic Ports Organization.

“Today, the Port of Klaipėda not only welcomes more than 200 maritime industry leaders and experts, but also serves as a platform where future solutions for the entire Baltic Sea region are being developed. We are proud to host this important event again after 11 years, and we hope that the next two days will not only further strengthen our ties, but also lay the foundation for new directions in the development of the Baltic Sea ports region. In the coming days, Klaipėda can confidently call itself not only the capital of Lithuania as a maritime state, but also the centre of the entire Baltic Sea region,” says Algis Latakas, Director General of Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.

This year’s conference focuses on geopolitics and its impact on the maritime industry, along with the prospects for shipping in Europe, digitalisation, sustainability, and the energy transition. It also gives an overview of the current European transport network policy. As the geopolitical landscape shifts and ports expand beyond their traditional operational boundaries, the development of new strategies becomes essential. This conference provides an excellent platform for collaborating with experts to shape the future of the Baltic ports region.

For the members of the Baltic Ports Organization, it is one of the most important events that takes place in a different European port every year. Today and tomorrow, participants will attend a wide range of sessions, panels, and presentations by as many as 30 experts and maritime industry leaders from the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania. They include leaders and representatives from ports, shipping companies, universities and research centres, market research centres and banks. The event will also be attended by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, and the Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), Isabelle Ryckbost.

The General Assembly of the Baltic Ports Organization is also included in the overall programme of the event. During the event, members of the organization will participate in a workshop on artificial intelligence tools aimed at combating carbon emissions. The workshop is organised as part of the “DigiTechPort 2023” project.

The conference, taking place in Klaipėda on 5–6 September, is organized by the Baltic Ports Organization in cooperation with the Port of Klaipėda. As the host of the event, the Port of Klaipėda has introduced a new tradition by presenting the flag of the Association to the host of the next Baltic Sea Ports Conference as a ceremonial handover.

In 2023, the Baltic Ports Organization Conference was held in Ystad, Sweden.

The Baltic Ports Organization brings together more than 45 ports from 8 Baltic Sea countries. It is a platform to raise and successfully address common port issues, as well as an opportunity for ports to better understand each other and share experiences.