Since the deep-water berth has been put into operation on Zurku Sala (island) it has already paid off in less than a year and this year's prognosis reveals that 40 Panamax ships will be worked on at this wharf until the end of the year 2010, which brings 40 million Euros to the National economy of Latvia, Baltic Course reports.
The construction of Zurku sala berth was set by a necessity – larger capacity ships with a draught up to 15 metres increasingly visited the Port of Riga. Mr Ainars Šlesers, the Chairman of the Board of the Freeport of Riga Authority, indicates: “Already last year we realized that without deepening the port aquatorium and access routes, the expansion of the Port of Riga is limited. Being aware of the requirements of the terminal owners, the Freeport of Riga Authority made a decision to invest approximately 2 million Euros to build the first deep-water berth on Zurku sala, which would enable the Panamax ships to enter the Port of Riga. Now we see that the investments have paid off at a record speed – in a years time the freight operators have paid more than two million Euros for exploitation of the mentioned infrastructure. It is only part of the amount that has increased the budget of the Freeport. Latvia has gained at least another 40 million due to the multiple effects. We must be aware that not only the Port and the port companies earn the money, but also the railway company Latvijas Dzelzcelš, road transport operators, catering and other service providers, civil servants; even the salary of Daugavpils switch-tender depends on the efficiency of the Port activity. I am of the opinion that if we did not have this berth, the freight turnover would be at least 2 million tonnes less. Moreover, we have been able to maintain the increase of the freight turnover, as well as attract new types of freight.” The Zurku sala berth is only a temporary solution whilst new terminals and berths have not been put into operation on Krievu sala. The construction of the Krievu sala project is what the port companies are expecting. One of the largest port companies is the concern Riga Commercial Port (RTO).
The construction of Zurku sala berth was set by a necessity – larger capacity ships with a draught up to 15 metres increasingly visited the Port of Riga. Mr Ainars Šlesers, the Chairman of the Board of the Freeport of Riga Authority, indicates: “Already last year we realized that without deepening the port aquatorium and access routes, the expansion of the Port of Riga is limited. Being aware of the requirements of the terminal owners, the Freeport of Riga Authority made a decision to invest approximately 2 million Euros to build the first deep-water berth on Zurku sala, which would enable the Panamax ships to enter the Port of Riga. Now we see that the investments have paid off at a record speed – in a years time the freight operators have paid more than two million Euros for exploitation of the mentioned infrastructure. It is only part of the amount that has increased the budget of the Freeport. Latvia has gained at least another 40 million due to the multiple effects. We must be aware that not only the Port and the port companies earn the money, but also the railway company Latvijas Dzelzcelš, road transport operators, catering and other service providers, civil servants; even the salary of Daugavpils switch-tender depends on the efficiency of the Port activity. I am of the opinion that if we did not have this berth, the freight turnover would be at least 2 million tonnes less. Moreover, we have been able to maintain the increase of the freight turnover, as well as attract new types of freight.” The Zurku sala berth is only a temporary solution whilst new terminals and berths have not been put into operation on Krievu sala. The construction of the Krievu sala project is what the port companies are expecting. One of the largest port companies is the concern Riga Commercial Port (RTO).