Just today, May 7, the cruise ship “MSC Poesia” docked in Riga. Passengers come out. Some go to the Old Town side on the infrastructure, as it is, unfortunately, others on specially assigned buses on the other side, but it is clear that the current system is one that could hardly be called full-fledged, so plans have been made in the capital for years, as a passenger to improve traffic in the port.
So far, all plans have come to nothing in the end, but now there is at least some activity. The infrastructure around the current terminal is being improved, but in the long term it is planned to move the reception of passengers further from the city center – in the southern part of the export port – and to build a completely new terminal there for both passengers and the so-called ro-ro or rolling cargo, which board and disembark the ship .
On Tuesday, the winners of the design competition for the planned object were announced, and the highest rating of the jury was given to the British architects – “Zaha Hadid Architects”.
In their vision, the new terminal would be different from other similar structures in the region, while maintaining a wide functionality not only in passenger service, but also as a place accessible to the wider public.
An important aspect of the further progress of the project is to restore regular ferry traffic, which once provided a lion’s share of passengers served in Riga. Negotiations are taking place, but it will not be easy.
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Ansis Zeltins
Manager of the Freeport of Riga
“There aren’t a lot of options here. So there are “Tallink” and “Viking line”, which are the largest service providers of this type in the Baltic Sea. Both the one and the other do not really have excess ships at the moment, one has sold the ships, the other has chartered them. Of course, taking into account the war and economic risks, there is no such huge enthusiasm to go to Riga at the moment.”
Financing for the project is also a relevant issue. Investments are needed both from the Freeport for the adaptation of the hydro-infrastructure, and up to 50 million euros from the developer “Riga Ropax Terminal”. The chain of owners of this company includes the shareholder of “Rietumu banka” Leonids Esterkins, as well as members of the families of ex-premier Andras Škeele and member of the Saeima Ainars Shlesers.
Julia Berzińa
“Riga RoPax Terminal” project manager
“Part of the money will definitely be bank financing, part will be European financing, and each partner will definitely be forced to invest their own funds as well – private or public, respectively. I think that, in general, a more detailed plan will be created by the end of this year from the point of view of the involvement of all parties involved.”
The new terminal would be located relatively far, namely three kilometers from the city center. The developers of the project have already talked with the Riga City Council about the possibility of extending the 5th tram line.
Edvards Ratnieks
Deputy Chairman of Riga City Council, National Association
“It is clear that there is no money for anything like that at the moment, but it will still take time until it is all built. Let’s see. Time will probably pass in about five years. [Jaut.: Tā saistība ar vienu otru politiķi nedara piesardzīgu?] We are, I think, quite cautious. We are aware that there are some economic interests why people invest their private funding, but as long as it brings tourists to Riga and warms Latvia’s economy, to that extent we have to cooperate.”
If everything goes according to plan and is successful, it is planned that the new terminal could be ready in 2028.
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Tags: passenger terminal port Riga architects selected questions unanswered
