The most advanced terminal in the Baltics, the Central Klaipeda Terminal, was officially launched on Tuesday. Three cargo or passenger vessels will be able to dock simultaneously at the new facility. The terminal can serve around 500,000 passengers and handle 5 million tonnes of ro-ro cargo per year, informs LETA/ELTA.

Photo: portofklaipeda.lt

Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius who attended the opening ceremony stressed that the most important task for the terminal in addition to increasing cargo flows would be attracting more passengers.

According to the head of the Government, it is pleasing that Lithuania attracts foreigners and that the number of tourists arriving to Klaipeda has been increasing. The prime minister added that it should be sought to provide quality service. "The terminal is a good possibility to achieve this. The facility will augment Lithuania's image as a country attractive to tourists," Butkevicius said.

The prime minister appreciated the fact that twice as much ro-ro cargo can be handled in the new terminal, thus enhancing Lithuania's competitiveness.

The terminal was built using funds of Klaipeda Seaport Authority, private sector investment and the European Union support. The total cost is estimated to reach LTL 185 million (EUR 53.6 million).

Also today, the cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse visited the port – the longest ship throughout the history of the port of Klaipeda. Butkevicius visited the ship with delegation and the master of Celebrity Eclipse Dimitris Manetas.