2009 08 20

Klaipeda Seaport reduces fees for cruise ships

Klaipeda State Seaport established more favorable conditions for cruise ships by reducing port fees.It is expected that this will increase the competitiveness of the Klaipeda State Seaport among the other Baltic Sea ports and encourage marine tourism in Lithuania.

The fee was reduced by 20 percent since the second entry for cruise ships that re-approach Klaipeda seaport during the calendar year. In addition, the very large cruise ships with a capacity of more than 50 thousand units of gross tonnage (GT) are charged with an upper limit for all port charges equivalent to 50 thousand GT vessels size.

So far, all port charges were calculated based on the gross tonnage of the vessel. Cruise ship tonnages due to the design features are particularly high.  For instance port charges for a liner with a displacement of 102 587 GT is about 47 thousand EURO. Under the new charges such liner would save about 23 thousand EURO after entering Klaipeda port for the second time a year.

It is expected more cruise ships to enter Klaipeda seaport and therefore to collect more money in the long term. In addition, the income will increase for the maritime catering companies and more income tax will be paid to the state budget.

Based on the preliminary data by the Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority, 50 cruise liners will come to Klaipeda during 2009 cruise shipping season and 38 thousand cruise passengers will visit the port.