Abstract
Introduction
In 2003, the Japan International Cooperation Agency carried out a development feasibility study of Klaipeda Seaport (Lithuania). The focus in this study was the evaluation of environmental impacts of the port expansion because it is located in an ecologically sensitive area. While the Japanese researchers focused on the environmental impact analysis, they did not provide unambiguous conclusions. The problems remained unresolved and required further, more detailed consideration and deeper analysis.
Purpose
Environmental sustainability in seaports is an issue of timely importance in many countries given the rapid increase in port-to-port traffic and harbor capacity. This paper explores the situation in Klaipeda Seaport (Lithuania) which is the northernmost ice-free port on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and its challenges in terms of environmental aspects and current pollution situation. This port plays an important role in the economic development of the region and in creating a sustainable society, i.e., a society that continues to develop economically without increasing its impact on our living environment and where the possible reduction of its current impact can be huge due to the fact that the seaport is a place where transport and logistics intersect and constitute large-scale industrial estates. Increasingly, they also turn towards sustainability.
Methods
Society faces the need for radical change because of increasing technological progress and increasing environmental impact. Environmental and public issues must be addressed by a systemic approach to find harmony among all the subsystems. Therefore, the authors of the article performed an assessment of the deep-water port of Klaipeda sustainable development opportunities tackling the following tasks: (1) Assessing Klaipeda port and the projected deep-water port of the current environment state; (2) Assessing the impact of the water quality of Klaipeda port, depending on the intensity of activity; (3) Assessing the projected impact of the deep-water port on the environment.
Results and conclusions
The results of the performed research allowed: (a) to reveal strengths and weaknesses of Klaipeda port development and the potential conflicts of interest among different stakeholders, (b) to identify the set of problem solutions seeking sustainable Klaipeda port development; (c) to develop the set of sustainability indicators to monitor the efficiency of the development.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belous O., Gulbinskas S (2008) Klaipėda deep-water seaport development.//Conflict resolution in coastal zone management (Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainability) by Walter Leal Filho, Nils Brandt, Dorte Krahn, and Ronald Wennersten. ISBN-10: 3631573758, Peter Lang Pub Inc, pp 145-161
Bichou K, Gray R (2004) A logistics and supply chain management approach to port performance measurement. Marit Policy Manage; Flagship J Intl Shipping Port Res 31(1):47–67, 1464–5254
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (2004a) The study on the port development project in the Republic of Lithuania, final report, vol. I
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (2004b) The study on the port development project in the Republic of Lithuania, final report, vol. II
Linton DM, Warner FG (2003) Biological indicators in the Caribbean coastal zone and their role in integrated coastal management. Ocean Coast Manag 46:261–276
Olsen BS (2003) Frameworks and indicators for assessing progress in integrated coastal management initiatives. Ocean Coast Manag 46:347–361
Perris-Mora et al (2005) Development of a system of indicators for sustainable port management. Mar Pollut Bull 50:1649–1660
Povilianskas R, Urbis A (2004) National ICZM strategy and initiatives in Lithuania. Managing the Baltic sea. Coast Rep 2:9–15
Puzinas D, Baltrėnas P (2007) Priemonės triukšmui mažinti Klaipėdos jūrų uosto teritorijoje. 10- jaunųjų mokslininkų konferencijos “Mokslas- Lietuvos ateitis” medžiaga
Smailys V, Tilickis B (2001) Lietuvos pajūrio aplinkos problemos. Environ Res Eng Manage Nr.3(17):76–81
Smailys V, Strazdauskienė R, Gedgaudas A (2007) Different methods of evaluating air pollution from sea ferry in Klaipėda port. Environ Res Eng Manage 4(42):13–24
Staniskis JK, Stasiškienė Ž (2003) Promotion of cleaner production investments: international experience//Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN0959-6526. Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd., 11(no. 6):619–628
Stasiskiene Ž, Staniskis JK (2005) Environmental management accounting in Lithuania: exploratory study of current practices, opportunities and strategic intents//Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN: 0959-6526. Elsevier Science
Venckus Z (2007) Aplinkos apsaugos politika ir teisė. Technika, Vilnius, pp 185–191
Wennersten R (2007) Administrative and legall processes in coastal zone management. Conflict resoliution in coastal zone management., pp 17–33
Žaromskis R (2008) Baltijos jūros uostai. Vilniaus universitetas, Vilnius, pp 11–156
Zukauskaite A, Jakubauskaite V, Belous O, Ambrazaitiene D, Stasiskiene Z (2008) Impact of heavy metals on the oil products biodegradation process//waste management & research. ISSN0734-242X, vol. 26. Sage Publications, London, pp 500–507
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burskyte, V., Belous, O. & Stasiskiene, Z. Sustainable development of deep-water seaport: the case of Lithuania. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 716–726 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0415-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0415-y