Ice creates havoc for Riga Port

RIGA - Despite the complicated navigation in the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea due to the extreme cold and icing conditions, the Freeport of Riga serviced a record number of ships on Feb. 24, said Riga Free Port Authority spokeswoman Anita Leiskalne, reports Nozare.lv. According to Leiskalne, 19 ships were serviced. Seven ships entered the port, seven exited and five were re-towed.

“This figure is very high even when compared to the number of ships serviced in more favorable weather conditions or in summer. Therefore, the Riga Freeport categorically rejects all statements about its inability to act in difficult weather conditions,” emphasized Leiskalne.

This, however, is not entirely true. The port and its management faced heavy criticism last week within the transport industry, with stevedores said to be outraged at the “chaos” at Riga port, reports business daily Dienas Bizness. Altogether, 34 ships were trapped in ice in the Gulf of Riga, with people in the industry saying that the situation was very serious.

Most stevedores interviewed by Dienas Bizness preferred to speak on condition of anonymity fearing Freeport of Riga “sanctions.” However, international logistics company Waldkontor owner, Claus Rodenberg, was not afraid to speak up: “Four of our company’s ships have been stuck in the Gulf of Riga for several days now. The situation is problematic, both in terms of cargo maintenance and the ships’ safety. It is strange that the Freeport of Riga has just one icebreaker, because winter, in these latitudes, is not something unusual. I wonder why, given the current economic situation, Riga port gives cargo away [to other ports] so easily.”

Some ships had been trapped in ice since Feb. 13 and were close to running out of fuel, whereas their crews were close to running out of food and water.
Some of the port’s clients have shifted their cargoes to other Baltic ports, including Ventspils. Stevedores estimate that Riga Port’s income may therefore fall by at least 500,000 lats (714,200 euros) as a result.

The port’s customers emphasize that they do not understand how Riga Port’s operations are organized, because everything is happening very chaotically. It is also inexplicable what principles the icebreaker Varma works according to. The businessmen were left in the dark as to when their ships, then in Irbe Strait, could reach Riga. The situation was irresponsible because, for instance, in Finland ships in a similar situation must be provided help in four hours at the latest.
Although the situation threatens the competitiveness of the Freeport of Riga, the port is not doing anything, they said. The businessmen believe that the port should either buy one more icebreaker or change its attitude to the problem. Everything is fine with navigation in Estonian waters; all ports are fully operational there, although temperatures in Estonia are as low as in Latvia.

Freeport of Riga Strategic Planning and Project Management Department’s Director Vladimirs Makarovs says though that the Freeport of Riga and the Varma are working 24 hours a day. He notes that the Varma first goes to free those ships that are low on fuel, and that there are no other priorities for the icebreaker.
Makarovs also says that the port cannot afford to have one more icebreaker, as the maintenance cost is around 1 million lats a year.

Stevedores should take part of the blame for navigation problems in the Gulf of Riga, as they have chartered ships not fit for winter navigation that have now been trapped in ice, Andris Ameriks (Latvia’s First Party/Latvia’s Way), Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Authority, said in an interview with LNT television’s morning show ‘900 sekundes.’ Ice in the Gulf of Riga is 35 centimeters thick at the moment, and not only the Riga Port, but also Tallinn and St. Petersburg ports are experiencing problems, said Ameriks.

The Freeport chairman also said he hoped that stevedores operating at the Riga Port would not move their businesses to other Baltic ports.
Nevertheless, ships in the proper ice class are having no problems. For instance, ferry traffic between Riga and Stockholm has not been affected in any way.

The Riga Free Port Authority, unable to tackle the problem, had to ask the government to take a greater share of responsibility in breaking through the ice. “The Riga Free Port Authority is requesting the Latvian government, especially the Transport Ministry, to take a greater share of responsibility in helping to solve the current situation,” Leiskalne said.
As long as the cold weather continues, ships will be facing these same difficulties. The Varma’s captain, Edgars Ukis, said that currently navigation in the gulf is difficult because the ice that has been dealt with immediately freezes up again and the icebreaker must work with double intensity. According to Ukis, the situation could significantly improve if there are stronger winds to help move the ice.

There was a similar situation in 2003, when the Gulf of Riga was covered by thick ice and many cargo ships were forced to a standstill.
Nevertheless, shipping traffic has been curbed at Riga Freeport and other Baltic Sea ports because of ice. Most of the ships are carrying coal and oil products.