Joint-stock stevedoring company Klaipedos Smelte, based in Klaipeda Seaport, handles and stores containers, heavy lift and oversized cargo, frozen meat and fish products, other conventional cargoes.
Joint-stock stevedoring company Klaipedos Smelte is a modern and thrusting enterprise based in Klaipeda port. The company provides handling and storage of containers, heavy-lift and project cargo, frozen fish and meat products, as well as various dry-bulk, break-bulk and packed cargoes. Annual throughput capability of Klaipedos Smelte currently exceeds 3.5 million tons. Internal shunting of rail wagons with own locomotives as well as other services related to cargo handling are part of company’s service pack provided to clients.
Klaipedos Smelte is part of the worldwide container terminal network controlled by company Terminal Investment Limited (TIL). With a portfolio of more than 25 terminals located in various continents, TIL closely cooperates with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a global container shipping line that holds the second position in container volumes moved by sea. Central office of TIL is located in Bergen op Zoom (Netherlands).
Klaipedos Smelte is a member of Lithuanian Stevedoring Companies Association, Lithuanian Logistics Association and Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.
International shipping lines, global and local freight forwarders, also exporters and importers of cargoes form the list company’s clients.
Historical facts
- July 1945. Official opening of Klaipeda fishing harbor that will later on develop into Klaipedos Smelte.
- August 1998. Establishment of Joint-stock stevedoring company Klaipedos Smelte.
- July 2006. Klaipedos Smelte container terminal launched at newly constructed berths. First call of a container vessel received on August 30.
- October 2007. New cold store terminal launched at Klaipedos Smelte, first vessel with frozen fish received on October 12.
- September 2008. Global container terminal operator – company Terminal Investment Limited acquired the controlling share at Klaipedos Smelte.
Plans of development
- Expansion of the container terminal lies in company’s development program for the period of 2010-2015. Klaipedos Smelte plans to extend storage areas and introduce operation with modern Ship-to-Shore container cranes. RTG cranes and other terminal equipment will be purchased for yard operations at the terminal.
- Construction of the second stage of deep-water berths is planned to be completed in the middle of 2011. Since that moment the length of operational berth at the container terminal will be 1045 meters. Further dredging of company’s berths and the navigation channel of Klaipeda port to 14,0-14,5 meters will enable Klaipedos Smelte to accommodate containerships of 6.500-7.000 TEU capacity.
- Implementation of company’s development program would result in annual throughput capacity above 700.000 TEU. More than 90 per cent of the volume is expected to be moved in and out by sea.
