Klaipėda is taking a comprehensive approach to environmental improvement by ordering three new cleaner port vessels.
The port is adding two new diesel-electric hybrid pilot boats and a hydrogen-powered waste collection vessel to its fleet, under its current renewal and modernisation projects.
“At the end of next year, a hydrogen-powered waste collection vessel and two new-style hybrid pilot boats will be sailing in the Klaipėda Port Channel. Klaipėda Port is undergoing renewal and modernisation while taking a comprehensive approach to environmental improvement within the port,” said Algis Latakas, director general of the Klaipėda Port Authority.
Greener port
“It is worth pointing out that pilot boats will use only electricity to move around the port. However, if more speed is needed, especially when sailing out to sea, beyond the port gates, the engines will switch to diesel. This will reduce emissions at Klaipeda Port,” said Gintaras Petreikis, fleet manager at Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority.
Electric charging stations for boats will be located at the port authority’s new fleet base and near the company’s planned new administration building.
The new boats will operate around the clock and will be able to operate in poor weather conditions, even when wave height reaches five metres and the waves reach up to 30 m/s.
They will be equipped with search and rescue equipment for rescuing persons in the water including an on-board crane, a rescue platform, searchlights with integrated thermal cameras.
The pilot boats will be built at the Baltic Workboats AS shipyard on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. They should reach Klaipėda Port at the end of 2025.
