OREANDA-NEWS. April 20, 2011. Considering changes in market the Ministry of Transport suggested to decrease port dues by 30 percent to car carrier ships calling Klaipeda Port. The suggested maximum due amount was approved by the Government, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.
 
„Klaipeda Port seeking to render services to car carrier ships from now on will be able to compete better with other Baltic Ports. The navigation market of such type presently is under development therefore while creating favourable conditions we may become important and competitive market player“,- told the Minister of Transport Eligijus Masiulis.

By now any no any special dues applied to car carrier ships have been established both in Klaipeda Port and in the rival Ports of Latvia and Estonia. Ships of such type are comparable to Ro-Ro ships and relative port dues tariffs are applied to them.

Meanwhile car carrier ships have a number of unique characteristics; their gross tonnage is rather big and the transported cargo – vehicles – is not heavy. Considering this circumstance Ventspils Port in 2009 changed the order of dues applied to Ro-Ro ships simply relating the due amount to cargo weight and in this order resulted into the fact that since then the Port has become the cheapest Port for car carrier ships.

„Lithuania, establishing separate vessel, quay and navigation dues to car carrier ships cuts dues to ships of such type by 30 percent“ – told the Minister of Transport. According to the Minister Klaipeda Port will be able to compete with other neighbouring ports more successfully.

According to E. Masiulis Klaipeda Port will compete with other regional Ports in transportation of USA and other NATO member countries ro–ro cargo returned from Afghanistan. Ships accommodated to transport vehicles are namely the car carrier ships, therefore lower dues will contribute in competition for transit cargo transportation.

Since 2009 tractors manufactured in Belarus have been exported via Klaipeda Port, last year transportation of Ro-Ro cargo from Russia started via Klaipeda Port. Klaipeda Port has still not realized its potential in distribution of brand new cars in the Port. There is an expectation that decreased dues will induce manufacturers of new cars to benefit from Port services rendered for warehousing and distribution of their production in the region.

Lowered Port dues should induce transportation of Ro – ro cargo via Klaipeda Port and attract more ships of such type. The increased number of such ships should generate large incomes to stevedoring companies operating in the Port, Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, SC „ Lietuvos gelezinkeliai“ and other related companies of transport sector.