More capacity for the maritime industry: Western Shipyard Group is building a new dock
Lithuania’s largest marine engineering group is further expanding its ship repair capacity. Western Shipyard Group, part of the Estonian-owned BLRT Grupp, is undertaking a project involving the construction of a new floating dock and the modernisation of related infrastructure, enabling it to handle more orders and larger-scale projects in Klaipėda.
“The fact that this investment is being carried out with government support sends an important signal to the entire marine engineering industry – we can see that this sector is receiving institutional support, and through cooperation between the private and public sectors, we can systematically strengthen Lithuania’s export potential. The new dock is currently under construction, and we plan to begin operations next fall,” says Arnoldas Šileika, CEO of Western Shipyard Group.
The new infrastructure will make it possible to service larger and more technically complex vessels, increase operational efficiency, and expand the scope of ship repair and modernization services. Once the project is completed, it is expected to enable the repair of at least 10 percent more ships per year. More than 95 percent of the ship repair and modernization work carried out in Lithuania is intended for foreign markets, so this investment has significant export potential.
“Lithuania has a solid foundation for developing the marine engineering sector and further strengthening its position in international markets. This project demonstrates how cooperation between the government, institutions, and the business community can strengthen the country’s export capabilities, modernize industrial infrastructure, and create added value for the region. For Klaipėda, this means more opportunities, new jobs, and an even stronger role for the port city in the international marine engineering market,” says Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
The project will contribute to strengthening the engineering potential of the Klaipėda region. As ship repair capacity increases and the number of technically complex projects grows, so will the demand for qualified specialists. In preparation for this, the Western Shipyard Group continues to expand its cooperation with academic partners and professional training institutions, and maintains its student scholarship program. The integration of the new infrastructure is expected to be entrusted to local contractors, thereby contributing to the involvement of regional businesses and value creation in the Klaipėda region.
“It is important for Lithuania to create conditions that allow businesses already operating here – which have built up strong expertise and can compete in international markets – to grow. The expansion of Western Shipyard Group in Klaipėda demonstrates that such investments have a broader impact on the country – they boost exports, create new jobs, and open up more opportunities for students and future professionals. At the same time, this reinforces Klaipėda’s role as a center for marine engineering in the region,” says Elijus Čivilis, head of Invest in Lithuania.
Last updated: 30-10-2026
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