Free port of Ventspils
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Free Port of Ventspils is a seaport located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea (57° 24' N, 21° 32' E), western part of Latvia.
For the first time Port of Ventspils was mentioned in historical chronicles in 1263. 17th century for port of Ventspils was a period of a very rapid growth and dynamic development, where during the rule of Duke Jacob in the shipyards of Ventspils more than 135 ships were built and sold to European countries. Ventspils was an important member of the Hanseatic League – union of North German trading cities. Next period of a very dynamic growth was at the end of 19th century, when being a part of Russian Empire Ventspils port as first port on the Baltic Sea was connected with railway to Russia’s inland – to the cities of Moscow and Ribinsk. During the rule of Soviet Union Ventspils port evolved as a very important handling centre for oil and oil products and was linked to Russian oil fields with an oil pipeline. Later on the largest terminals in world for handling of liquid chemicals (ammonia) as well as potassium salt were constructed and operated in Ventspils.
Nowadays Free port of Ventspils is a deepwater port, which is ice-free the whole year round. Based on the cargo turnover Free Port of Ventspils is the largest Latvian port and one of the leading ports on Baltic Sea, at the same time being in top 20 of European ports list. In 1998 deepening of the harbour was completed, which ensured the maximum in the port of 17,5 m in liquid bulk area, allowing accommodation of the largest vessels calling the Baltic Sea – Aframax size tankers with maximum 130.000 metric tons of deadweight (DWT). Dry bulk and general cargo area was deepened to 15,5m allowing terminals to accommodate Panamax type vessels of up to 75.000 DWT.
Since year 1997 Port of Ventspils has a Free port or special economic zone status, which allows the companies located in the port territory to acquire tax incentives thus creating favourable environment for investments.
Total area of the port is 2623,9 ha which is a good location not only for port related companies but as well as manufacturing and industrial companies. The terminals located in the port handle different type of cargoes like oil products, crude oil, different liquid chemicals, mineral fertilizers, various metals, forest products, coal, grain, juice concentrates as well as containers and Ro-Ro cargoes. Since 2000 Ventspils port is very actively developing container and ro-ro traffic. As a result presently a regular container line from Ventspils to Great Britain is serviced by Geest North Sea Line. Thanks to strategic decision of the company “Scandlines” Ventspils port is a centre for ferry transportation with connections to Sweden, Germany and Estonia.
