Construction of Access Road to Berth No. 92 at the Port of Liepaja Nearing Completion

The Liepaja Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Authority is continuing to improve the infrastructure needed by the fishing industry by constructing an access road to Berth No. 92 at the Port of Liepaja. The project is financed under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Action Program for the Development of Fisheries for 2021–2027. The project includes construction of a 364-metre publicly accessible access road, as well as a smart lighting system and a rainwater drainage system. Following the procurement procedure, the works are being carried out by SIA “CTB”, which submitted the most economically advantageous offer of EUR 303,617.32. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of August.

Until now, access to Berth No. 92 at the Port of Liepaja has been severely restricted, meaning that fishermen were practically unable to use it. To address the situation, the Liepaja SEZ Authority reached an agreement with the fish-processing company “Syfud” to amend the lease agreement, secured funding from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, and began construction of the access road this spring.

According to the Liepaja SEZ CEO Uldis Hmieļevskis, the final construction works are currently underway, with the aim of putting this much-needed infrastructure into operation for fishermen soon. “The newly constructed access road will not only improve the operation of the fishing industry but will also provide access to other port infrastructure facilities, including the Liepaja Lighthouse.”

In cooperation with the Liepaja SEZ Authority and the Liepaja City Municipality, a multi-layered multimedia exhibition is also being created inside the lighthouse. Spread across five floors, it will combine projections, sound, lighting and animated historical stories, allowing visitors to explore the development of the Port of Liepaja from its origins to the present day.

SIA “CTB” is constructing publicly accessible infrastructure, including the road surface, rainwater drainage networks and lighting. This will provide a modern, safe and efficient transport connection between the city’s infrastructure and the Port of Liepaja, while also supporting the development of the fishing industry and creating opportunities for increased exports.

The aim of the project is to improve access to berths at the Port of Liepaja, develop a sustainable blue economy, and promote the growth of fishing and aquaculture communities. The new access road will provide access to a fish landing site to be used by coastal fishermen, while also improving access to other coastal facilities.

Key benefits of the project:

• construction of a 364-metre access road;
• installation of a stormwater drainage system;
• installation of energy-efficient smart lighting;
• improved access to Berth No. 92 and the fish landing site;
• support for the development of the fishing industry and increased export opportunities;
• improved access to the Liepaja Lighthouse and other coastal facilities.

About the project

• Project funding is provided under Measure U31421.2 “Strengthening the Development of Port Infrastructure” and Sub-measure U31421.2.01 “Action 1” of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Action Program for the Development of Fisheries for 2021–2027.
• On 8 November 2024, the Liepaja SEZ Authority received a decision from the Rural Support Service approving the application for the project “Construction of an Access Road at the Port of Liepaja”.
• The project objective is aligned with the Strategic Objective SO2 of the Liepaja Special Economic Zone Development Plan 2023–2035, which provides for maintaining and developing the competitiveness of the Port of Liepaja, including the maintenance and improvement of port infrastructure to support the operations of fisheries-related businesses.
• The project is in line with the Community-Led Local Development Strategy 2023–2027 of the “Liepaja Region Partnership” association and Action R1 “Strengthening the Development of Port Infrastructure” under Strategic Objective M4, thereby contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Action Program.