Klaipėda port’s green course: international ferries will soon be able to switch off their engines while berthed
Port or Klaipėda continues to move along its green course. The port’s terminals have already received the new on-shore power supply systems, and installation is now underway. Testing is planned to begin later this year, and by next year ferries calling at the designated ro-ro terminals will be able to switch off their engines and draw clean electricity from shore -significantly reducing air pollution and noise. The OPS infrastructure being installed in the port is designed specifically for ro-ro vessels, with a total of four shore-power connection points to be set up for ferries.
“Klaipėda Port’s green vision is becoming reality – sustainability here is no longer just a promise. With shore-side electricity, ferries will be able to shut down their engines and reduce their environmental footprint to almost zero. And this is only the beginning. It’s more than a technological milestone – it’s our commitment to the city, its people, and a cleaner future for our sea,” says Algis Latakas, CEO of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.
This initiative marks a significant step in Klaipėda Port’s wider shift toward electrification. Earlier this autumn, the port installed its first on-shore power system at the Fleet Base, designed mainly to support the new hydrogen and electric-powered waste collection vessel now nearing completion. The systems now being put in place at the two terminals are specifically tailored for ferries and ro-ro vessels operating between Klaipėda and Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Poland, carrying rolling cargo. In the coming years, similar systems are planned for other terminals as well, enabling shore-side electricity for cruise ships and container vessels.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 10 Nov
Announcements are published as a service to readers. The sender is responsible for all content. Announcements for publication can be submitted to announcements@thehanseatic.com.
Following numerous attacks by unidentified hostile actors, the leaders of the Baltic states have committed to jointly expanding their ability to monitor and protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Scattered across the 110,000-square-nautical-mile (422,000-square-kilometer) maritime region are energy and communication cables, pipelines, and wind pylons—all potential targets for disruption.
Protecting undersea infrastructure requires continuous maritime presence, not episodic patrols. Persistent surface and subsurface awareness eliminates predictable gaps that adversaries can exploit and strengthens deterrence in contested waters. Saildrone, the global leader in autonomous ocean exploration, has successfully integrated and operated a sub-bottom profiler (SBP) on a Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vehicle (USV).
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 3 Mar
The latest 2025/2026 global report published by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) confirms that Lithuania leads Europe in the quality of its entrepreneurial environment and ranks among the world’s strongest economies in this field.
The most recent data capture entrepreneurial development at a time of heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty worldwide. Around 67% of economies reported that in 2025 more people experienced a decline in income than an increase. In many countries, starting a business is now perceived as more challenging than a year ago, while structural imbalances are emerging as persistent, long-term obstacles.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 2 Mar
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into everyday work processes in Latvia. However, the labor market’s overall preparedness for these changes remains insufficient. A representative survey conducted in February 2026 by the research company Norstat, commissioned by ERDA and the Future of Work Institute, shows that only 23% of employed respondents have received training in artificial intelligence over the past 12 months, highlighting a significant skills development challenge in the labor market.
In only 16.2% of cases was the training provided by the employer, while a substantial share of employees acquired knowledge at their own expense. This means that more than three-quarters of Latvia’s workforce operate in an AI-driven environment without systematic support.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 4 Mar
In February, Ilkka Räsänen took up his role as Sitra’s first Head of EU Affairs, strengthening Sitra’s presence in Brussels.
The Head of EU Affairs position in Brussels supports Sitra’s strategic goal of being a trusted partner in the EU and globally. In practice, this means expanding networks, deepening partnerships for EU funding programmes, and bolstering Sitra’s EU advocacy. At the same time, it builds on Sitra’s nationally and internationally recognised work in foresight and innovation.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 4 Mar
At present, the contractor consortium Femern Link Contractors (FLC) is testing the special vessel that will immerse the tunnel elements for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. Over the weekend, the unique immersion pontoon IVY 1 & 2 carried out the first test of connecting the vessel to a completed tunnel element.
The immersion pontoons are currently located in the large Danish work harbour on Lolland, with the first tunnel element secured between the two units. The initial phase of testing has already been successfully completed and includes, among other things, confirming that all functions operate correctly – both when IVY 1 & 2 are operated separately holding a standard element secured in between, and when they are operated as a combined vessel.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 3 Mar
The Finnish technology company Insta, specializing in defence solutions and cybersecurity, and the Ukrainian supplier of robotic platforms Tencore have agreed on extensive Build With Ukraine joint production initiative, cooperation and the development of military technology.
According to the agreement (Memorandum of Understanding), Insta and Tencore will advance and explore the localization of production of unmanned TerMIT UGV ground vehicles in Finland. This includes manufacturing, assembly, and supply chain development. The agreement also covers joint product development related to integrating AI and autonomy solutions combat or military platforms
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 26 Feb
Marine Technology, part of the Western Shipyard Group and a specialist in large-scale cable-handling equipment for the global energy and marine sectors, is investing €15 million to expand its manufacturing operations at Klaipėda Seaport. The expansion will add advanced robotic welding capabilities and modernized production facilities, enabling the company to scale up output of modular and composite equipment for offshore and onshore renewable energy projects.
As part of the Western Shipyard Group, Marine Technology operates within a well-established maritime engineering ecosystem. The group itself is part of BLRT Group, a Baltic industrial holding with more than a century of heritage, over 25 subsidiaries, and 3.500 employees across the region.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 3 Mar
The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs has launched a full-service offering for institutions and companies developing AI solutions, ensuring that the system being created is legally compliant, technically secure, and trustworthy. The AI & Robotics Estonia centre (AIRE), based at TalTech, is responsible for conducting the initial risk classification assessment of projects.
AIRE’s client relations manager Evelin Ebruk noted that AIRE acts as an advisory partner, helping developers understand the risk class of their AI solution under the EU AI Act.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 27 Feb
Estonian-based Bigbank AS has signed a synthetic securitisation transaction with the European Investment Bank Group, comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). The transaction, which is the first synthetic securitisation transaction for the Bigbank, will support new lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with a particular focus on micro-enterprises, young companies and environmentally sustainable investments.
Under the agreement, the EIF is providing Bigbank with a financial guarantee covering a reference portfolio of more than €210 million, consisting of loans, credit lines and leases. The guarantee provides credit risk protection on a senior tranche of €184.3 million and a mezzanine tranche of €23.1 million. The EIF’s exposure to the mezzanine tranche, as well as part of its exposure to the senior tranche, is counter-guaranteed by the EIB. Bigbank retains the junior tranche of the portfolio, amounting to approximately €2.6 million.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 2 Mar
The Future Expert Launchpad (FELP) aims to support the employment and skills development of highly educated international professionals, graduating students, and individuals seeking new career directions. FELP offers participants the opportunity to work on genuine, market‑driven projects and strengthen their expertise through hands-on collaboration.
Demola is a Finnish company with 15 years of experience in new concept development and co-creation. Its globally operating innovation platform brings together talent and real business needs.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 2 Mar