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.
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Originally published on 10 Nov
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Iceland’s flag carrier Icelandair is establishing a technical services centre in Vilnius. Opening in May 2026, the new division will employ 15 specialists in its first year across roles including CAMO engineers, planning engineers, technical records specialists, and maintenance coordinators.
As Icelandair’s first dedicated technical aviation operation in the region, the Lithuanian team will take responsibility for the airline’s third-party technical services. The expansion builds on the carrier’s existing presence in the Baltics through Icelandair Business Services, its long-standing subsidiary in Tallinn, which has provided accounting, ticketing, and back-office services for Icelandair since 2002.
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Originally published on 23 Apr
The Government has approved the special plan for the Kaunas–Vilnius section of the Rail Baltica project. The Government’s decision also provides for the commencement of land acquisition procedures for public needs in the Kaunas and Jonava districts.
The extension of the European standard‑gauge railway to Vilnius is planned to follow the completion of the main Rail Baltica line. In 2024, the three Baltic States and the European Commission agreed to prioritize the construction of the main Rail Baltica line connecting Poland with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It is envisaged that the necessary funding for the Kaunas–Vilnius connection will be secured from the forthcoming EU financial period.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
One of the largest biotechnology investments in Lithuania in recent years is gaining momentum – the construction of Pentasweet’s €65 million brazzein sweet protein factory. This major national investment project has entered a new stage: a symbolic capsule has been placed into the foundations of the future factory at the Vilnius City Innovation Industrial Park. The factory is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2027.
“Lithuania is consistently strengthening its high value-added economy and is capable not only of creating innovation but also of turning it into real projects. The Pentasweet factory is the first brazzein production center of its kind in Europe, demonstrating that Lithuania can be among global leaders in life sciences. This is a meaningful investment not only in the economy but also in people’s health. Solutions that enable reduced sugar consumption have great potential to transform the food industry and everyday habits”: Inga Ruginienė, Prime Minister
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Originally published on 22 Apr
Preparation of the first element for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is well under way. The element, which is the first of a total of 89, has just been filled with 4,500 tonnes of ballast concrete. This increases the weight from 73,500 tonnes and enables the element to later sink in a controlled manner down onto the seabed.
The work inside the element has been carried out via a temporary access structure consisting of five shafts, which are bolted onto the watertight steel bulkheads that keep the water out. At one end there is a materials lift, a concrete shaft and a man‑access shaft, which also functions as ventilation. At the other end there is a ventilation shaft and an emergency shaft for personnel.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
We have recently introduced a refreshed Elcogen brand, including a new visual identity and a more detailed articulation, through a new website design, of who we are and what we stand for. This evolution reflects how our business has grown, how our technology is being applied, and the role we see ourselves playing in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Our previous tagline focused only on enabling affordable green hydrogen. That remains central to what we do, but it is only part of the picture. At the heart of this brand update is our new tagline: Bridging the energy transition.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
In the North Kiviõli defence industry park in Estonia, ARCA Baltics Operations will begin producing 155 mm artillery ammunition. The total investment amounts to approximately €300 million, and the completed ammunition factory is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs in the region, with production planned to start in 2028.
“With the establishment of large-calibre ammunition production, Estonia is taking an important step in developing its defence capabilities and ammunition industry. ARCA is a rapidly expanding defence company that has in recent years developed a significant ammunition production hub in Turkey. ARCA Baltics Operations, established in Estonia, will build a factory in North Kiviõli where the primary focus will be on producing large-calibre 155 mm ammunition, including extended-range variants. Under the agreement, the Estonian state will also have the option to procure ammunition from this major producer if needed. In addition, the agreement signed today brings an investment of hundreds of millions of euros into the Estonian economy and creates hundreds of new jobs,” said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
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Originally published on 21 Apr
For the second time, the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku has been selected for Business Finland’s leading company funding program, which challenges companies to increase their research, development, and innovation (RDI) investments in Finland. Meyer Turku’s MERiON – Future‑Ready Cruise Ships and Floating Infrastructure program will be implemented between 2026 and 2030.
MERiON continues Meyer Turku’s long-term RDI efforts following the previous NEcOLEAP program. The long-term objective of the new program is to ensure that Turku remains at the forefront of modern and technologically advanced shipbuilding also in the decades to come.
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Originally published on 21 Apr
CMP was proud to host the Danish Ports Conference 2026, held on 14–15 April at CMP’s Cruise Terminal in Nordhavn, Copenhagen. Organised by Danske Havne and held every two years, the conference brought together more than 200 participants from Denmark’s commercial ports, authorities, companies and industry organisations.
Under the theme “Safe Ports in Uncertain Times”, this year’s conference focused on the crucial role ports play in preparedness, resilience and supply security in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Over two days, participants engaged in discussions on global security, economic developments, EU port policy and the future role of ports in society.
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Originally published on 16 Apr
On April 15, Delska, one of the leading data center operators in the Baltics, officially launched EU North Riga LV DC1 – a 10 MW data center designed for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). The project has received the Latvian Construction Annual Award (1st place in the “Production Facility, Industrial Building” category).
The data center was created in response to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the resulting shortage of data center capacity in major European cities, which is pushing companies to look for new regions with available resources. The company notes that this project marks only the beginning of a broader expansion of data center infrastructure in the area, reinforcing the Baltic states’ role as a competitive and sustainable digital hub in Northern Europe.
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Originally published on 20 Apr
Estonian economy is starting 2026 on a positive note, with one of the most consequential deals of recent years, with domestic investors stepping in big time. Coop Estonia, the country’s largest grocery chain, has agreed to acquire all 13 Prisma Peremarket supermarkets from Finnish retail group SOK — in what is described as the largest domestic retail transaction in Estonia’s history, per ERR.
Prisma, which has operated in Estonia since 2000 and is part of Finland’s S-Group cooperative, employs over 700 people across stores in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Rapla and Harju County. Once the Estonian Competition Authority signs off on the deal — expected later this year — all stores will be rebranded under the Coop banner and staff will transfer accordingly. The financial terms have not been disclosed.
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Originally published on 16 Apr