Riga Port welcomes first Post-Panamax ships
The Free Port of Riga on August 8 handled the biggest ship ever, the Netherlands-flagged dry bulk carrier the m/v UBC ONSAN. The Post-Panamax ship docked at the port to be loaded with 112,000 tons of coal exported to the French Port of Dunkirk, the Baltic Course reported.
The ship's characteristics: length overall - 260 m, beam - 43 m, draft - 14.5 m. The UBC ONSAN’s call is a proof that Riga is able to accomodate the biggest ships able to enter the Baltic Sea, the Port Authority said.
Earlier, Riga port has seen the arrival of another post-Panamax vessel, the Greece-flagged M/V Kyzikos (LOA - 230 m, breadth - 37m, draft - 14.2-m). The vessel was loaded with 82,200 tons of iron ore at the Riga port terminal.
“Attraction of such ships is our long-term goal; therefore planned deepening of shipping routes and building projects of new deepwater quaysides have to be carried out as soon as possible. If Riga delays to improve infrastructure, we can lose competitiveness and, thus, our leading positions in the Baltic Sea obtained due to developed and so far implemented improvements of Freeport’s infrastructure”, Andris Ameriks, Chairman of the Board of the Freeport of Riga Authority, said with certainty.