UN/LOCODE: LTKLJ📍 Lithuania

Port of Klaipeda (UN/LOCODE LTKLJ)

❖ Coordinates: 55.7033°N, 21.1443°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Vilnius

❖ UN/LOCODE: LTKLJ

## About the Port Klaipėda Port (UN/LOCODE: LTKLJ) stands as Lithuania's principal maritime gateway and one of the most strategically significant ports in the Baltic Sea region. Located in Klaipėda County along Lithuania's western coastline, this deep-water facility operates within the Europe/Vilnius timezone at coordinates 55.70329479999999°N, 21.1442794°E. The port's geographical position provides critical access to the Baltic Sea, serving as a vital link between Northern European markets and inland destinations through Lithuania's extensive inland waterways network. The port complex encompasses multiple terminals and handles diverse cargo streams including containers, bulk commodities, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) cargo, and liquid fuels. With modern infrastructure supporting vessel sizes up to 200,000 deadweight tons, Klaipėda has evolved into a regional hub capable of accommodating post-Panamax vessels while maintaining competitive operational efficiency for smaller feeder services. ## History Klaipėda's maritime heritage traces back centuries, but its transformation into a modern port began during the Soviet era when the facility was established as part of the broader Baltic Sea shipping integration. Following Lithuania's independence in 1991, the port underwent comprehensive privatization and modernization efforts that positioned it for EU membership in 2004. The historic city of Klaipėda, formerly known as Memel, has served as a trading center since the Hanseatic League period. The current port infrastructure developed significantly during the 1960s-1980s Soviet period, when it was expanded to handle increased cargo volumes for the entire USSR's northern flank. Post-independence reforms introduced commercial management practices, international standards compliance, and strategic investments in terminal automation and digitalization systems. ## Infrastructure & Facilities Klaipėda Port operates through several specialized terminals strategically positioned along its 12-kilometer shoreline. The container terminal features state-of-the-art gantry crane systems capable of handling 1,500 TEU vessels, with automated stacking cranes and GPS-guided truck operations ensuring optimal productivity rates exceeding 30 moves per hour. The oil terminal complex includes four tank farms with combined storage capacity exceeding 1.2 million cubic meters, serving both domestic consumption and export requirements for refined petroleum products. Liquid bulk handling infrastructure connects directly to pipelines linking the Baltic Sea with inland refineries and storage facilities. RoRo operations center on two dedicated terminals processing over 1.8 million linear meters of cargo annually. These facilities accommodate car carriers, passenger ferries, and heavy machinery transports with onboard ramp systems designed for vessels up to 25,000 gross tons. Additional infrastructure includes a dedicated roll-truck facility, grain terminal with silo capacity exceeding 180,000 tons, and comprehensive repair and maintenance zones for both vessels and port equipment. The port authority maintains ice-classified pilotage services and winter operation protocols ensuring year-round functionality despite harsh Baltic climate conditions. ## Economic Importance As Lithuania's primary seaport, Klaipėda handles approximately 75% of the nation's total maritime cargo throughput, making it indispensable to national economic development. The port contributes over 2% of Lithuania's GDP directly and supports an additional 8% through supply chain effects across logistics, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. Employment figures demonstrate significant socioeconomic impact with over 4,200 direct jobs and tens of thousands more in indirect employment categories including trucking, freight forwarding, and maritime services. The facility serves as a critical node in the Baltic Sea transport corridor connecting Scandinavia with Central and Eastern European markets. Strategic investments under Lithuania's National Transport Infrastructure Development Program have focused on expanding capacity to accommodate projected growth in container traffic, renewable energy equipment handling, and potential LNG transshipment operations. These developments align with broader EU transport policy objectives for multimodal connectivity and sustainable port operations. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo Klaipėda's cargo portfolio reflects its position as a regional trade hub with diverse international connections. Container traffic dominates throughput volumes, with regular services linking to major European gateways including Hamburg, Rotterdam, Gdańsk, and St. Petersburg. Key import commodities include consumer goods, electronics, and automotive parts; exports feature machinery, timber products, and finished manufactured goods. Bulk cargo operations concentrate on grain exports, which represent the largest single cargo category benefiting from the port's proximity to Lithuania's extensive agricultural regions. Coal imports for energy generation and fertilizers for agricultural supply chains provide additional bulk cargo stability. Liquid bulk operations focus primarily on refined petroleum products, chemicals, and increasingly alternative fuels including biofuels and potential LNG cargoes. RoRo traffic emphasizes automotive imports and exports, construction equipment, and seasonal passenger ferry services to Swedish and Finnish destinations. The port's strategic importance continues growing as Lithuania positions itself within emerging Northern European supply chains, with particular emphasis on green logistics corridors and multimodal integration connecting maritime transport with rail and road networks throughout the Baltic region.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

LTKLJ

Country

Lithuania

Province / Region

Klaipėda County

Latitude

55.703295

Longitude

21.144279

Timezone

Europe/Vilnius

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Klaipeda?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Klaipeda is LTKLJ.

Where is Port of Klaipeda located?

The Port of Klaipeda is located in Lithuania, Klaipėda County. Its coordinates are 55.7033°N, 21.1443°E.

What time zone is Port of Klaipeda in?

Port of Klaipeda operates in the Europe/Vilnius time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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