Although positive tendencies can be observed in the development of ferry service at the Freeport of Ventspils, as well as in the operation of several terminals having improved their indicators significantly in comparison to the year before, the year of 2014 in general, especially its second half, at the Freeport of Ventspils was spent in the atmosphere of sanctions. These sanctions resulted in the significant drop of coal transit through the Port of Ventspils (-21%). Losses caused by the sanctions already amount to 500 thousand Euro per month with 10% share for the state and 10% share for the municipality. The volume of handled oil products and ironstone has also decreased, yet to a lesser extent as compared to coal. Thus, the Freeport of Ventspils failed to reach the cargo turnover planned at the beginning of the year, and the forecasts for 2015 are also wary.
Despite the planned reduction of budget in 2015, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority is not planning to raise the port charges, while simultaneously continuing utmost investments in the maintenance and development of the port infrastructure.
The new dry bulk cargo terminal of the Freeport of Ventspils was opened in 2014. The repair of Pier No. 34 has been completed; the construction of Pier No. 12, where a new universal cargo terminal will be located, as well as the building and reconstruction of the access roads for the terminals and industrial areas located in the territory of the Freeport of Ventspils and reconstruction of the pier of the Freeport of Ventspils Authority fleet and wave protection wall of the Northern Breakwater continue. 25.6 million Euro are planned to be invested in the port infrastructure in 2015 including the co-financing of EU funds up to 11.9 million Euro. The implementation of the commenced projects will be continued, the implementation of the project Provision of the Soil Stability providing for the reinforcement of soil behind the line of separate piers will commence. The construction of two new industrial buildings, namely Electronics Centre and Technology Centre, co-financed by EU funds takes place through the further development of industrial sector. The construction of the new production plant of hydraulic connections Hydraulic Bauteile Baltic was completed in 2014.
Data on the development of ferry service in the Freeport of Ventspils show positive trends. The number of ferry trips to the Swedish city Nynashamn has been increased to 7 runs a week as of 19 October. The number of passengers of the “Stena Line” travelling to Nynashamn, Sweden, has increased by 39%, whereas the cargo volume — by 25%; at the same time, the number of passengers travelling to Travemunde, Germany, shows 41% growth. Wherewith, 2014 shows a new record of the carried passengers and cargo units at the Freeport of Ventspils — 82,952 passengers and 72,758 cargo units.
Three out of ten terminals of the Freeport of Ventspils have increased their cargo turnover in 2014 as compared to the year before. The following companies have experienced an increase in cargo turnover: SIA Ventspils Nafta termināls — 15%, SIA Ventamonjaks serviss — 32%, as well as SIA Noord Natie Ventspils Terminals — 0.3%.
Drop in cargo turnover was experienced by AS Ventbunkers — 36%, AS Ventspils tirdzniecības osta — 29%, SIA Ventall Termināls — 35%, AS Baltic Coal Terminal — 23%, SIA Ventplac — 15%, Ventspils Grain Terminal — 8% and AS Kālija parks — 3%.