Riga to tackle coal dust

According to board member Viesturs Silenieks, the port’s administration will invite tenders to design and construct the 20m-high wall by early 2019, when local coal operators (Strek and Riga Coal Terminal) are expected to start operating on Krievu Sala.
 
Estimated at around €100,000, the project is intended to retard the wind speed by 80%, making it the most cost-effective option to reduce the coal dust in the harbour and adjacent areas. 
 
Since 2012, Riga has been developing Krievu Sala’s infrastructure, so as to relocate the Freeport’s dry bulk (mainly coal) handling facilities from the city’s downtown area, to closer to the Daugava River’s estuary. 
 
Throughout 2012-2015, four deepwater berths totalling 1,180m were built, with a 15.5m draught alongside (to be deepened later to 17m). Krievu Sala will shorten ship handling time from 2-4 days presently to just one day. Krievu Sala’s handling capacity is planned at 15 Mtpa initially, and up to 20 Mtpa at a later stage.
During Q1 2017, Riga handled 9.3 Mt of cargo, up 2.1% year-on-year.