INLAND WATERWAYS FREIGHT LOGISTICS

Freight-forwarding services

 The State-Owned EnterpriseInland Waterways Directorate provides freight-forwarding services which are generally matched to customer requirements. We organise freight-forwarding services through the inland waterways on the route between Kaunas, Klaipeda, and Kaunas.

Development objectives for freight-forwarding services 

  • To become the main transport corridor for freight-forwarding between Kaunas and the Klaipeda seaport.
  • To serve the Central Lithuania region and provide freight traffic services to and from Klaipeda seaport.
  • Develop freight-forwarding activities which can involve the usage of an increasing number of inland waterways, including the River Neris, the River Nevėžis, and the River Nemunas (and involving Kaunas HPP (the hydroelectric power plant at Druskininkai)).
  • The implementation of projects which involve the provision of international freight forwarding services and operations.

Advantages

Ecology

Inland waterway transport is one of the most environmentally-friendly modes of transportation, and one which consumes less fuel than does road transportation. CO2 emissions for inland water vessels which are employed on freight-forwarding activities are almost 5.5 times lower than equivalent figures for road transportation services, while the main harmful substances – nitrogen oxides and hard particles – are almost seven and nine times lower respectively.

Economy

Inland waterways transportation is one of the most economical modes of transport available today. Inland waterways transportation reduces air pollution, negative climate change effects, noise emissions, habitat destruction, and congestion. Inland waterways transportation helps to resolve all of these problems while also making it possible to save money.

Oversized and heavy cargo transportation

Oversized or heavy cargoes are rated as loads which have weights or volume parameters which exceed the maximum allowed levels which are intended for their selected transportation modes (whether this is by road, railway, or aviation). Oversized and heavy loads which are intended for cargo transportation via inland waterways make it possible for us to avoid volume or weight restrictions. Inland waterways and inland waterway vessels can carry cargos of virtually any volume or weight.

Oversized and specialised cargo transportation is a complex process which requires technical equipment, permits, prior agreements, compliance with international requirements, and expert knowledge. The State-Owned Enterprise Inland Waterways Directorate has accumulated extensive experience in the field of oversized and specialised cargo transportation services.

If you would like to access further information about the technical options which are available, or wish to enquire about options regarding cargo transportation, please contact our specialists at the State-Owned Enterprise Inland Waterways Directorate.

Implemented projects

The journey of new 400/330kV autotransformers began at the General Electric plant in Gebze, Turkey, where manufactured equipment was transported to the Port of Derince and was loaded on board a vessel.  The travel route stretched for more than 7000km to Lithuania via the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Baltic Sea.

Those autotransformers which were delivered to Klaipeda were loaded onto barges at the Klaipeda Container Terminal.

The state-owned Inland Waterways Directorate’s barge transported the autotransformers across the Curonian Lagoon and along the River Nemunas to the Marvele Cargo Port in Kaunas.

At Kaunas, equipment weighing a total of 164.5 tons were transferred onto road vehicles which measured thirty-nine metres in length, along with a special platform which, with the help of another road vehicle, transported the equipment to the LitPol Link Converter Station near the town of Alytus.

As all of the transformers arrived at different times, different journeys were carried out which involved different inland vessels.

Freight route: Turkey (Gebze) to Lithuania (Alytus)

Freight dimensions:

Width: 5,750mm

Height: 4,450mm

Length: 10,200mm

Weight: 164,500kg

11/05/2021: Transportation of the first autotransformer.

09/06/2021: Transportation of the second autotransformer.

07/08/2021: Transportation of the third autotransformer.

Total weight: 493,500kg.

The journey of a set of stainless steel containers started at the Astra plant in Alytus, Lithuania, from where the containers were transported to Kaunas Marvele International Cargo Port and were loaded onto a barge which was owned by the state-owned Inland Waterways Directorate.

The state-owned Inland Waterways Directorate’s barge transported the cargo along the River Nemunas and across the Curonian Lagoon to reach the Klaipeda Container Terminal.

At the Klaipeda Container Terminal, the cargo was loaded onto a seagoing vessel and was transported to the Port of Tallinn, Estonia.

Freight route: Lithuania (Alytus) to Estonia (Tallinn)

Freight dimensions:

First container:

Width: 6,604mm

Height: 6,647mm

Length: 12,150mm

Weight: 16,656kg

Second container:

Width: 5,214mm

Height: 5,475mm

Length: 12,378mm

Weight: 11,650kg

Third container:

Width: 5,214mm

Height: 5,475mm

Length: 12,378mm

Weight: 11,650kg

Total weight: 39,956kg.

At Klaipeda Seaport, internal transportation duties were provided between Quay 119 (Kamineros Cargo Terminal) and Quay 134 (Western Cargo Terminal). A total of four units of cable reels for submarine cables were transported at the same time.

Freight route: Quay 119 to Quay 134

Freight dimensions:

Width: 6,500mm

Height: 7,500mm

Weight: 20,225kg

Total weight: 80,900kg.