Possibilities of optimisation of Byelorussian cargo flow via Klaipeda Seaport considered

In 2005 February 1 the forth sitting of the Working Group of Lithuania and Byelorussia designated to optimisation of Byelorussian cargo via Klaipeda Seaport was held in Minsk (Byelorussia).

The under secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Lithuania Arvydas Vaitkus was the head of the delegation of Lithuania, the director of the Water Transport Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Lithuania Juozas Darulis, the director general of State Enterprise Klaipeda State Seaport Authority Sigitas Dobilinskas, the commercial director of AB “Lietuvos gelezinkeliai” Juozas Senuta and the other representatives of the Ministry of Transport and stevedoring companies participated in this meeting as well.

Byelorussia was represented by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Byelorussia Vladimir Ulasen (the head of the Working Group), the director of the Water Transport Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Byelorussia Bronislov Govorovskij, the head of the department of the representative office in Lithuania of the logistics concern “ Belneftexim” Sergej Savickij, other heads of the transport companies of Byelorussia.

During the forth sitting of the Working Group of Lithuania and Byelorussia designated to optimisation of Byelorussian cargo flow via Klaipeda Seaport issues concerning optimisation of Byelorussian cargo flow via Klaipeda Seaport, granting of discounts to foreign cargo of Byelorussian Republic, concluding of long term agreements between consignors, transport companies of Byelorussia and Klaipeda Seaport stevedoring companies in order to shorten rail wagon turnover towards Klaipeda, were brought up for discussion.

During the meeting the representatives of the delegation from Lithuania highlighted perfectly developed possibilities of Klaipeda Seaport infrastructure and superstructure to handle over 4 million tons of Byelorussian potassium fertilizers and tranship over 5 million tons of Byelorussian oil products, both sides stated that Klaipeda Seaport has conditions to handle up to 60 thousand tons of bulk cargo and to render services to tankers up to 100 thousand tons. During the meeting Lithuanian side informed about their readiness to grant discounts to port dues in case of the amelioration of Byelorussian uniform cargo flow. The representatives of Byelorussian Working Group mentioned that the decreased period of wagon turnover up to 5,8 days via the territory of Lithuania was mutually acceptable.