Maritime Affairs Commission visits Klaipeda

Members of the Maritime Affairs Commission of the Lithuanian Parliament, headed by Chairman Robert Kaunas, visited Klaipeda today. The meeting was attended by Lithuanian Shipowners’ Association members, the Lithuanian Seamen’s Union, the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration, and other maritime organizations. The meeting focused on the need for and scope of a maritime strategy, and the next steps. Although there will be no maritime issues in the spring parliamentary session, there will be some maritime-related issues in the coming sessions. These include extending the fixed profit (tonnage) tax on shipping companies, amendments to the Klaipeda State Seaport and the Laws on Safe Navigation, and ratifying maritime conventions. The importance of the development of the offshore Curonian Nord wind park and the reconstruction of the port of Sventoji was highlighted during the meeting. The development of these projects would allow the emergence of a new segment of the shipping business in Lithuania – offshore ships.