Riga to invest over US$8 million in port upgrades in 2025

The Freeport of Riga Board has approved the 2025 Investment Plan, allocating approximately US$8.1 million to port development—an increase of US$1.2 million or 17% compared to the previous year. This plan encompasses ongoing major infrastructure projects and new strategic initiatives.

Sandis Šteins, chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board, commented: “The priority of this year’s investment plan is the implementation of the port’s major infrastructure development and digitisation projects, which will increase the potential for attracting new investments. Investing in the physical and digital infrastructure of the port is essential to proceed with the process of attracting investors to develop modern manufacturing and logistics parks in the port area. We realise that investors are very interested in the Port of Riga, but the port’s current infrastructure does not always meet the requirements of big-scale investment projects. That is why we are currently focused on targeted investments in the port’s infrastructure to make it as attractive as possible and to meet the investor needs.”

In 2025, the Freeport of Riga Authority plans to complete its portion of the new overpass project connecting Tvaika Street to Kundziņsala. This includes constructing port and public infrastructure in Kundziņsala, such as a modern port checkpoint equipped with a fully digitised access system.

This system aims to improve vehicle throughput by facilitating electronic registration, digitising cargo documents, and enhancing overall efficiency. The Riga City Municipality is overseeing the overpass construction, with the entire project slated for completion in early 2026.

Additionally, development efforts will continue in Kundziņsala, transforming it into a hub for cargo warehousing, logistics, and significant international investments, including facilities for wind technology manufacturing. In late 2024, Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers approved the “Establishment of port and logistics infrastructure for the development of wind technology production in Kundziņsala” project, allocating US$70.7 million for infrastructure enhancements.

The total investment of over US$93 million will fund the construction of engineering networks, access roads, a railway crossing, a new deep-water berth with a RoRo ramp, new logistics infrastructure, and dredging activities.

The project is expected to be completed by 31 December 2029, paving the way for offshore wind turbine component manufacturers to establish large-scale production facilities adjacent to the port.

The reconstruction of Flotes Street, in collaboration with the Riga City Municipality, is scheduled to commence this year. Recent growth in port terminals around Flotes Street in Daugavgrīva has led to increased freight traffic.

The reconstruction project includes new infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, as well as the installation of stormwater collectors and lighting. Construction is set to begin at the end of 2025, with completion anticipated in 2027.

Moreover, efforts to develop modern maritime passenger transport infrastructure will also progress. To facilitate the construction of a cruise ship and cargo-passenger ferry terminal complex in Eksportosta, the Freeport of Riga Authority plans to improve navigation infrastructure by partially dismantling the ED Dam. This modification is necessary to accommodate large cruise vessels exceeding 300 meters in length near the historic city centre.

The partial dismantling is expected to conclude by summer 2026. Concurrently, the Freeport of Riga Authority is collaborating with partners from the Riga City Municipality, LIAA, RITA, and the Ministry of Economics to reestablish regular passenger and cargo ferry services to and from the Port of Riga.

Digital infrastructure projects will advance, focusing on equipping port checkpoints with biometric and machine vision technologies to enable contactless control of personnel and vehicles. Collaborations will continue to digitally transform Latvia’s port management by enhancing data processing and analysis and implementing an integrated platform for seamless digital integration among port users, cargo carriers, and the Port Authority.

Aligning with the EU Green Deal and Green Port objectives, the Port of Riga is participating in the “BalticSeaH2 – Cross-border hydrogen valley around the Baltic Sea” project. This initiative involves researching hydrogen technology applications in maritime contexts, including transportation, storage, manufacturing, and alternative fuels like methanol and ammonia. The port plans to develop a feasibility study and project to convert an existing fleet vessel to hydrogen-based hybrid propulsion technologies this year.

In 2024, the port completed several significant infrastructure projects, including a military mobility project with a total investment of US$13.7 million, enhancing the port’s competitiveness and security. An industrial park for renewable energy is under construction within the port territory, and a contract has been signed for developing a 100 MW solar park, representing an investment of up to US$87.6 million.

The total budget for infrastructure projects at the Port of Riga in 2025 is $8.1 million, comprising US$5.9 million from the Freeport of Riga Authority and US$2.2 million in co-funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Mechanism Programme for the project “Digital transformation of port management by improving logistics data processing and analysis.”

The post Riga to invest over US$8 million in port upgrades in 2025 appeared first on Container News.