Klaipeda Port signs historic MoU with Philadelphia Regional Port Authority

23 Jan 2012 - Going Places

• MoU will open Philadelphia ports to the European and Asian shipping trade via Klaipeda

The Lithuanian Port of Klaipeda and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) have announced the signing of what is being hailed as a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU, agreed on Friday, promises to open Philadelphia ports to the European and Asian shipping trade via the ice-free port of Klaipeda, located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

Lithuania's Transport and Communications Minister Eligijus Masiulis led a delegation of to meet with Pennsylvania State and city officials, as well as Leo A. Holt, President of Holt Logistics Corp., and key member of the PRPA.

The agreement follows months of extensive discussions between Lithuanian officials and the Port of Philadelphia, led by Krista Bard, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania; Leo Holt; and PRPA leaders.

“Today's agreement is another step forward for the Port of Philadelphia,” added PRPA Chairman Charles Kopp.

“Under Governor Corbett's leadership, the PRPA is committed to revitalizing the port, both through continued support of the River deepening project and through partnerships that expand trade opportunities with important port cities like Klaipeda.”

The deep-water Port of Klaipeda connects the main shipping lines with the ports of Western Europe and Southeast Asia. The Lithuanian port has an annual cargo handling capacity of up to 45 million tonnes.