The fact that Liverpool Seaways ferry was detained in Sweden can have an impact on ferry business in Klaipeda.

No losses after the fire of Lisco Gloria

Klaipeda port still experiences losses after the fire of Lisco Gloria in 2010. The fire did not have any impact on container shipping, which experienced the growth of 14 per cent. However, ferry business has experienced some losses. Last year, there were 16 556 ferry passengers, which is 5.8 per cent more than in 2010. Klaipeda port was the last among all neighboring ports in terms of cruise ships passengers with only 21 478. Klaipeda was visited by 302 thousand passengers from cruise ships. Klaipeda port cannot be compared with Tallinn which was visited by 8 million 478 thousand passengers. Tallinn port has good geographical location near Helsinki. The port of Tallinn boasts one of the largest numbers of visitors in the Baltic Sea region. Klaipeda is also behind Riga port which is visited by 839 712 passengers. What has determined the growth of passengers in Riga port? The port has only one ferry line going to Stockholm. This only line has determined such a good performance because this destination is favored by many travelers. Riga has also much more intense cruise shipping. Last year, Riga was visited by 69 cruise ships, carrying 63.5 thousand passengers.

Opportunities for competitors

According to the number of passengers, Klaipeda region is one of the least developed. Only Ventspils has less passengers than Klaipeda, 53 115. However, the number of passengers in Ventspils is increasing. Last year, it had 34 921 passengers more than in 2010. The growth made 192 per cent. This was influenced by the opening of new lines. It seems that the port of Ventspils is copying shipping lines from the port of Klaipeda and offering lower prices for attracting both passengers and cargo. Ferry lines in the port of Klaipeda are to Kiel, Sassnitz in Germany and to Swedish Karlshamn. Ventspils has ferry lines going to Lubeck and Travemunde in Germany and to Swedish Nyneshamn. All these ports are located near the ports to which Klaipeda ferries are going. There is also a separate line from Liepaja to German Travemunde. Almost all the ferry lines in Ventspils and Liepaja are serviced by Scandline. The same company has previously worked with DFDS and transported both passengers and cargo to German ports. When the partnership was over, Scandline created new competitive lines for the port of Klaipeda. Scandline has problems with its employees. Recently, 130 employees of the company held a strike. This was due to the sacking of some professionals working in the ferry lines between Denmark and Germany, Gedser-Rostock and Rodby-Putgarden.

Swedes did not insist on ferries

The detention of Liverpool Seaways ferry in Karlshamn port might have a serious impact on shipping between Sweden and Lithuania. Immediately after Liverpool Seaways was detained in Sweden, another ferry from Poland’s Gdynia was also detained. In the ship, belonging to Stena Lines and named Stena Feronia, Swedes found out twenty shipping security breaches. It is interesting to note that this Polish ship was renovated in Gdansk shipyard and got into the hands of Swedish inspectors on its first voyage. It is possible to discuss which of the ships had less breaches. The fact remains that Swedish media was rather negative about Liverpool Seaways and its detention. Swedish radio emphasized the number of security breaches from 15 to 25. This expanded number was further embraced by Swedish newspapers. Here in Lithuania we are free to asses this number. However, in Sweden, there is a strong opinion concerning the ferry, claiming that it was insecure. After such information, the Swedes, which remember their negative experiences with the tragedy of Estonia ferry, will be somewhat reluctant to use ferries of this company. Swedes are also careful about the lines going from Sweden to Tallinn. They were also reluctant about the ferries sailing to Klaipeda. They made about 10-15 per cent of all passengers. They were not attracted by all the advertisements about Lithuania and its golf fields. The ferry line going to the port of Karlshamn is mostly used by the Lithuanians going to work in Norway. They will continue using this line even if it is not safe, as long as it is cheap. However, there is a danger that same passengers might try using Latvian ferries. The line from Ventspils to Nyneshamn is presented as a cheaper option. Among foreigners, more popular line is Klaipeda-Kiel, where Germans make up to 25 per cent of all passengers. In summertime, it is also used by travelers from the Western Europe.

Price (in LTL) for ferries (from Klaipeda and Ventspils to Sweden)