Sharing development strategies, comparing their respective seaward expansion programs and laying the foundations for future industrial synergies: this was the aim of the visit that brought a delegation from the Lithuanian port of Klaipėda to Palazzo Rosciano for a meeting with the North Tyrrhenian Port Network Authority.
The initiative, sponsored by ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation), brought together Port Network Authority President Davide Gariglio, Secretary-General Pierpaolo Danieli, Harbour Master Giovanni Canu, and the Lithuanian top management, led by CEO Algis Latakas, Commercial Director Kornelija Butkutė, Harbour Master Vladas Motiejunas and the Head of the Technology Department, Gintaras Caikauskas.
What took place at the Port Authority’s headquarters was not merely a courtesy visit. On the contrary, it was a genuine, in-depth discussion about their respective infrastructure development plans.
The Lithuanian managers listened carefully to the details presented by the Port Authority’s technical experts and compared the figures with their flagship project: Southport, the most ambitious expansion program in the history of the Baltic port. We are talking about 100 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea, a 2.5 million TEU container terminal and seabeds capable of reaching depths of up to 17 metres, representing a total investment of 1.4 billion euros.
The technical roundtable – organized down to the smallest detail by the Authority’s head of promotion, Claudio Capuano, together with his staff – produced results that go far beyond a mere formal handshake. During the meeting, they discussed joint decarbonisation projects, with PNA senior manager Sandra Muccetti outlining the progress on cold ironing in the Network ports. This has opened up a real opportunity for future collaboration in the customs, technology and commercial fields.
“The visit by senior officials from the Port of Klaipėda confirms the international standing and appeal of our port network,” said President Davide Gariglio enthusiastically. “This discussion with such an important set up demonstrates that Livorno is on an equal footing with Europe’s most dynamic logistics hubs. This exchange of expertise is just the first step towards a lasting commercial partnership.”
Algis Latakas confirmed that he shared this vision. The Lithuanian CEO displayed considerable interest in the discussion, highlighting the close similarities between the two development strategies and the desire to continue talks over the coming months. In particular, Mr. Latakas stressed how cooperation and connectivity between ports are now crucial for navigating the complex international scenario, undermined by geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea, the Russia-Ukraine war and the volatile situation between Iran and the United States.
Immediately after the meeting, the delegation visited the port, accompanied by President Gariglio in person. The Klaipėda managers were able to take a close look and see for themselves how the work was progressing.
Klaipėda is Lithuania’s only seaport. It is one of the most strategic ports on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. With a total cargo throughput of around 40 million tonnes a year, the port recorded a strong performance in the container segment during the first semester. Volumes reached almost 700,000 TEU, equivalent to approximately 7.2 million tonnes of containerised cargo. Other growing sectors include the RO-RO segment and petroleum products, which account on average for 12% of total cargo handling.
Translation by Giles Foster
