Environmentally Friendly Shore Power Berth for Passenger Vessels Under Construction at the Port of Ventspils

Author: Freeport of Ventspils Authority
Construction work is progressing rapidly at Berth 16 in the Port of Ventspils to enable vessels to use shore-side electricity instead of diesel-powered onboard generators while moored. This will significantly reduce air pollution and noise levels both within the port and in the city.

​The foundations for the electrical supply equipment have already been completed. Concrete works are currently underway, along with the installation of steel beams for the cable duct cover. Utility infrastructure is also being constructed in the adjacent area to establish the connection to the shore power supply point. In the coming weeks, piling works will begin for the modules that will house the main electrical supply equipment.
Berth 16 was commissioned in 2000 and serves ferries and other passenger vessels. It is currently used primarily by the ferries operated by Stena Line, which provide regular passenger services on the Ventspils–Nynäshamn (Sweden)–Ventspils route. The ferry connection between Ventspils and Sweden is the shortest maritime link between the Baltic States and the Stockholm region, offering the most efficient and highest-capacity logistics route to the Scandinavian market.
The Freeport of Ventspils Authority signed the contract for the construction of the shore power grid connection point in December 2025. Following an open procurement procedure, the contract was awarded to the supplier consortium RPI-ISP. The contract value amounts to nearly EUR 4 million, excluding VAT. This will be the first berth in the Port of Ventspils where ferries will have access to a high-capacity shore power connection. Construction works at the berth are scheduled for completion in early 2027.
The construction of the shore power connection at Berth 16 forms part of a broader project to modernise the electrical infrastructure at Berths 14, 15 and 16. The overall project will be implemented in three independent phases. The first phase – the reconstruction and electrification of Berth 16 – is being carried out as part of the project "Modernisation of the Vessel Traffic Management Centre of the Freeport of Ventspils and Electrification of Port Berths", representing one of the project's two main activities.
The project is being implemented with support from the European Union Cohesion Fund. The total eligible project cost amounts to EUR 4,772,941.00, of which EUR 4,056,999.50 is financed by the Cohesion Fund. The project implementation period runs until 31 December 2029.