The new multipurpose quay at Paldiski South Harbour, developed by Port of Tallinn, has received an operating permit and is ready to welcome its first vessel carrying onshore wind farm components already in February.
The newly constructed quay at Paldiski South Harbour is unique in the Baltic Sea region. It is 310 metres long, has a water depth of 13.5 metres alongside the quay, and includes a 10-hectare back-up area. The issuance of the operating permit allows the quay to be put into immediate use, with the first scheduled vessel calls bringing components for an onshore wind farm being built in Latvia.
“The new quay, together with the Paldiski South Harbour industrial park, creates an integrated environment that enables manufacturing, storage and logistics to be concentrated in one comprehensive hub, thereby strengthening Port of Tallinn’s competitiveness in the Baltic Sea region. We are pleased that the first large-scale vessel carrying onshore wind farm components is expected already in the second half of February,” said Valdo Kalm, Chairman of the Management Board of Port of Tallinn.
In addition to servicing wind farm projects, the specially designed and reinforced quay at Paldiski South Harbour is intended for handling heavy military equipment of the Estonian Defence Forces and NATO allied forces. If necessary, the quay can also serve ro-ro vessels and thanks to its high load-bearing capacity is capable of handling other oversized and heavy project cargo.
The quay was constructed by a consortium consisting of Insenerehituse AS (lead partner) and Akciju Sabiedrība BMGS Estonian Branch. Construction works were completed last year. The total investment amounted to €64 million, of which €20 million was co-financed by the European Commission through the military mobility project EstMilMob.
The strategic location of Paldiski South Harbour, combined with the new quay, creates strong preconditions for Port of Tallinn to become a key partner in the construction and subsequent maintenance of both offshore and onshore wind farms. The new quay ensures the capability to accommodate deep-draft specialised vessels. The extensive back-up area enables various pre-assembly and preparation works for generators and turbine blades, as well as storage. At the same time, the new infrastructure strengthens Estonia’s defence capability by enhancing the reception capacity for military equipment.
