English
Starting the construction of a new passenger ship reception infrastructure in the Port of Riga and the waterfront regeneration in Andrejsala, the Freeport of Riga Authority this week concluded an agreement with SIA “Tilts” on the partial demolition of the ED dam. SIA "Tilts" will develop the construction project and implement demolition, with work scheduled to begin this May and conclude by early 2027. Upon completion, residents will gain access to the preserved section of the dam and the newly revitalized Andrejsala waterfront.
The partial demolition of the ED dam is the first step for the creation of a modern infrastructure for the reception of cruise ships and ferries at the Port of Riga - in the southern part of the Eksportosta. Currently, due to the ED Dam the arrival of larger vessels at the Exportosta berths is hindered. The demolition of the dam will provide an opportunity to expand the access water area, to create a ship turning basin and ensure the safe maneuvering of large vessels at the berths.
Alongside the ED dam demolition, the Freeport of Riga Authority will conduct dredging operations this year. This will allow the first cruise ships to dock at the Eksportosta berths as early as the 2027 cruise season.
According to ship calls scheduled for the coming years the cruise segment in the port of Riga continues to grow. For the 2026 season, 97 cruise ship calls have been scheduled, which is 13% more than last year. As for the 2027, the number of scheduled vessels’ calls already exceeds 100.
With the partial demolition of the ED dam and the phased use of the Eksportosta berths for the reception of cruise ships in addition to the current infrastructure, the problem related to the limited availability and capacity of berths in the immediate vicinity of the city center during the cruise season will be solved in 2027. Currently, it is impossible to accommodate more than 2-3 cruise vessels simultaneously (depending on their length and draft) at the passenger terminal.
Information for media
- [email protected], +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- 12 Kalpaka blvd, Riga, Latvia, LV-1010
