Freeport of Riga’s project on construction of Krievu Island Terminal enters its final phase
The greatest project in the history of the Freeport of Riga — the Krievu Island Terminal — is entering into its final phase with the additional infrastructure works and construction of the required utilities, cargo areas, rail approach roads, a windbreak fence to meet environmental protection requirements, administrative buildings, and installation of coal handling technologies. The course of work creates confidence that all construction works on Krievu Island will be completed within the planned deadlines, the Freeport of Riga says in its press release.
“The Freeport of Riga Authority is closely following the schedules of the final phase of the construction works as well as the work plan. The whole process is going according to the planned and approved schedule, and today I am convinced that the required infrastructure will be available to stevedores on time and in the expected amount and quality. The work progress and collaboration with stevedores suggest that also stevedores will be able to fulfil their part of commitments in terms of the construction of infrastructure and technologies, thus the moving process to Krievu Island will go smoothly without delays, while meeting all requirements of the European Commission,” highlights the CEO of the Freeport of Riga Ansis Zeltiņš.
Construction of cargo areas and utilities in the territory leased by the stevedoring company STREK SIA is already completed in full amount. Instructions for the installation of facilities and executive documentation are currently being developed, as well as opinions from supervisory authorities are being received. Construction of the 23 metres high windbreak fence in the territory leased by STREK SIA is completed at 90% — all masts are installed, wires between the masts of the fence and the wind mesh of the fence are being mounted. According to the set work schedule, construction of the wind fence on the territory of STREK SIA should be completed by the end of September 2018. Stevedores are working on the construction of interior for administrative and service buildings, and exterior panels are being mounted on the building for unloading of dry bulk. STREK SIA is actively working on the supply and assembly of the technological equipment.
“We commend the Freeport of Riga Authority for the cooperation. Thus far, in all matters we have been able to reach an agreement and come up with mutually acceptable solutions. We also highly evaluate the job done by the contractors. The volume of work is high and the deadlines are very tight, but the construction work is nevertheless progressing according to the plan. If the construction works are put into service according to the schedule, the moving process to Krievu Island will commence within the planned terms,” says the co-owner of STREK SIA Mihails Gaņevs.
Construction works on underground utilities in the territory leased by the stevedore Riga Coal Terminal SIA continues: posts are being constructed for gantry crane roadways between cargo areas, concrete beams are being constructed, and reinforced concrete slabs are being laid out in the cargo areas. At the moment, the completed works amount to around 80% of the total volume of construction works. Construction of foundation piles for the windbreak fence is currently being carried out in the territory of Riga Coal Terminal SIA. Fence masts are already delivered to the construction site and installation work has begun. Completed works amount to 59%. In mid October, Riga Coal Terminal SIA plans to start delivery of its technological equipment and installation in Krievu Island.
“We work in close collaboration with the Freeport of Riga Authority to make sure that both parties fulfil their commitments and ensure that the infrastructure, including the new railway station “Krievu Island”, is ready for operational use according to the deadlines and schedules. This is crucial for us to be able to commence processing of cargo on Krievu Island as of 2019,” points Jānis Priede, chairman of the board of directors of Riga Coal Terminal.
As announced, in the interests of observing environmental protection requirements, at its meeting on 25 July, the Board of the Freeport of Riga decided to purchase and install two new air quality monitoring stations, one of which will be placed in the north-western part of the Krievu Island Terminal, and the other one — near the residential area of Riga, in the territory of Lielupes iela in Bolderāja District. The stations will be installed and ready for work by this October.
To free the centre of Riga from coal cargo and transfer the handling of coal to the new terminals equipped with modern technologies on Krievu Island, in 2012 the Freeport of Riga Authority commenced the project “Development of infrastructure on Krievu Island for the transfer of port activities from the city centre”. On 31 December 2015, the construction of the principal infrastructure of the Krievu Island Terminal was completed, which included 4 deep-water piers (15.5 m) with the total length of 1,180 metres and the necessary access road and utility infrastructure.
