The sea – a gateway to the world
To truly make the sea a gateway to the world, three essential elements are required: the seafarer, the ship, and the port. This interaction, leading toward maritime structures, generates numerous themes in the history of navigation.
At first glance cold and austere, hydraulic engineering structures not only provide protection but are also an integral part of the maritime cultural landscape. They bear witness to the development of ports and navigation, and they open up to the public with new functions for recreation and exploration.
Today, the Port of Klaipėda is unimaginable without its sea jetties. As early as the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they became a popular destination for city dwellers’ walks and a point of attraction for amateur fishermen.
Adaptation of the Jetties
Between 2020 and 2024, during the reconstruction of the jetties, the surfaces of both jetties were renewed and adapted for public use. Two observation platforms were installed on the southern jetty.
In 2024, lighting, stairs, and an access ramp were installed at the entrance of the northern jetty.
- Length of the southern breakwater: 1,374 meters
- Length of the northern breakwater: 733.66 meters
The total cost of adapting both jetties for public use — including lighting and improved access — amounted to €2.36 million, funded by the Port Authority.
Breakwater events
The Klaipėda State Seaport Authority invites residents each year to various events held on the breakwater, such as Easter celebrations and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The most popular event is the dinner held near the northern breakwater. In 2024, residents gathered for a white-themed dinner, while this year, everyone will be invited to dress in green – for the upcoming green dinner.
History
The reinforcement of the Curonian Lagoon shores and the construction of breakwaters in the 19th century were the most expensive and significant investments, ensuring navigational conditions for vessels in the port. The breakwaters, extending far into the sea, “framed” the lagoon’s current, stabilized sand masses (shoals) on both sides of the entrance, and—together with landscaping efforts—shaped the adjacent land areas of Melnragė and Kopgalis.
In 1791, construction of the southern breakwater began – bundles of brushwood (fascines) were held in place with stone-filled cages and reinforced with wooden piles. By 1806, the southern breakwater extended approximately 50 meters into the sea.
In 1834, major works to regulate the port entrance commenced. Between 1834 and 1841, a 940-meter-long stone embankment (“The Stony Shore”) was constructed from the North Ballast Square toward the sea to reinforce the shoreline, and a 460-meter northern breakwater was extended into the sea. By 1858, the breakwater was lengthened by an additional 750 meters, bringing the total length of this hydraulic structure to 2,150 meters.
On December 16, 1884, the construction of the northern breakwater was symbolically completed with the lighting of a gas lantern in the 10-meter-tall metal lighthouse at the breakwater’s tip. The lighthouse came to be known as the “White Lighthouse”, as it was painted white.
By Romualdas Adomavičius
