Ferry services between Bolderāja and Vecmilgrāvis need to be developed in collaboration with the Freeport of Riga, utilizing existing docks, concluded the working group established by the Riga City Council, LETA reports.
Overall, all coastal land plots belonging to the municipality in the lower reaches of the Daugava were considered, but none of the possible locations turned out to be suitable for the construction of docks, access roads, and platforms.
Preliminary calculations show that the construction of docks would require 10–15 million euros, and the design and construction would take at least five years. Therefore, in collaboration with the Freeport of Riga, existing docks were considered. The working group concluded that the most suitable docks for ferry services across the Daugava are dock KR21 in Voleri and dock EO11 in Sarkandaugava.
These locations have direct access to main access roads designed for heavy traffic and are located outside residential areas. In Voleri, there is a connection to Daugavgrīvas Street, while dock EO11 in Sarkandaugava is connected to Uriestē Street and further to the Eastern Highway and the Southern Bridge.
The location of these docks in the central industrial port zone minimizes the impact on the residential environment, thus eliminating risks of noise or traffic safety that would be inevitable in the Vecmilgrāvis areas.
Both locations have favorable conditions for navigation and existing port infrastructure — docks, platforms, maneuvering areas, and roads, which significantly reduces the need for costly hydraulic engineering works.
Most modifications would be limited to the construction of ramps and individual technical nodes.
The working group concluded that establishing ferry services on the route Vecmilgrāvis — Bolderāja would benefit Riga, the port, and residents by improving mobility, the environmental situation, and port efficiency.
Ferry services would reduce the transport load on bridges over the Daugava and major streets, decreasing the need for lengthy detours using existing transport infrastructure. This would shorten cargo transportation time to one hour while simultaneously reducing the risk of traffic accidents and air pollution.
The project would also strengthen the industrial development of Bolderāja, Vecmilgrāvis, and Sarkandaugava, increasing the economic significance and accessibility of these areas.
The working group recommends utilizing the existing docks in the Freeport of Riga, adapting them rather than constructing new ones.
It is noted that large-tonnage vessels of the ROPAX type, designed to transport passenger cars and freight vehicles, were considered.
The length of such vessels reaches 80 meters, width up to 18 meters, carrying capacity about 300 tons, speed 10–14 knots (18–26 km/h).
Such ferries can carry up to 65 passenger cars or up to 14 freight vehicles, and if necessary, around 100 passengers.
Accordingly, docks capable of servicing vessels of this size and functionality were considered.
On Monday, the Riga City Council's development committee was scheduled to discuss residents' initiative for establishing ferry services, but this issue was postponed to one of the upcoming meetings.
As reported, the Riga City Council instructed the city development department to assess the feasibility of establishing ferry services between Vecmilgrāvis and Bolderāja.
The municipality received a collective statement for the creation of ferry services, signed by 2,331 residents.
