The FSRU „Independence“ hoists the Lithuanian flag

10 years after one of the best decisions in the history of independent Lithuania. A decade ago, on a very windy day, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage vessel with the meaningful name “Independence” arrived at Klaipėda Port.

At the time, Lithuania time-chartered the ship from its owner, the Norwegian company Höegh Evi. The agreement allowed Lithuania to buy the vessel after 10 years of use. Last Friday, in a solemn ceremony, the Lithuanian flag was hoisted on the ship and she was registered in the Lithuanian Maritime Register. With a live view of Independence as the backdrop, we were welcomed in Klaipeda by Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda, along with Poland’s President Andrzej Sebastian Duda, the Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė (the ship’s godmother) and Ambassador Atle Konta Midttun from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vilnius. The terminal operator, state-owned KN Energies, has bought the storage facility for around €140 million.

Presidents of the Baltic States and Poland

This ship was the main reason we completely abandoned Russian gas. Today, gas supplied by the Independence is used by Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Estonia.