Our port pro of the month is Ansis Zeltiņš, elected as Chair of ESPO on 6 November 2024 and CEO of the Port of Riga (Latvia). In this interview you will learn more about the Port of Riga, Ansis role as CEO but we have also taken some time to ask him some questions as Chair of ESPO. So read with us and learn to know our new Chair (if you did not know him before.

Ansis, on 6 November you were elected Chair of ESPO for the next two years. What is ESPO for you?

For me the ESPO is an organisation of port excellence. It is the place where to meet the best port professionals in Europe and learn from each other!

What is ESPO’s agenda for the next two years?

• The European Commission is preparing a new EU Port Strategy. This is the chance for the port community to engage in paving a way to sustainable future for our ports while also strengthening our competitive position in the global arena. ESPO will be active and present in the discussions with the EU Commission and the European Parliament in order to achieve the best results.
• A good Port Strategy requires successful implementation and investments. Enhancing and supporting the role of ports in energy transition, military security and defence preparedness of Member States already requires a massive need for investments. A centrally managed EU funding instrument (CEF) has proven to be highly effective and essential for a secure, sustainable and efficient transport network, which is the backbone of strong economic development in the EU.
• We will continue our active participation providing input to the development of an EU policy to support the energy transition as well as addressing the EU ETS inconsistencies and deficiencies.

ESPO is the voice of Europe’s ports and our unity is our strength— from the shores of the Black Sea the Mediterranean to the North and the Baltic Sea—responding to policy initiatives and helping the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council by providing support and expertise from the best industry professionals.

What is the biggest challenge for European ports in the turbulent geopolitical and geo-economic landscape we are going through? Additionally, how do you envision the future role of ports in Europe?

Although the lion’s share of the EU trade is seaborne or seaborne-related, we are not a self-sustaining, isolated island when it comes to competition in port industry. Trade and transportation—particularly energy—, have become explicitly global industries, especially in the last decade of the digital era. That means, whenever region specific regulations (such as environmental, carbon pricing/ETS or AI – related) are being implemented, we must thoroughly evaluate how that interact with developments is China, U.S. and beyond to ensure that the EU does not lose its position in the geo-economic landscape. Moreover, our port industry carries a significant burden of the regional – EU – regulatory framework. Ports should keep and strengthen their role, as the cornerstone of EU trade, a catalyst of our energy independence (by which I mean sustainable energy) and security (both economic and military) and defence.

You are CEO of the Port of Riga since 2017. Can you briefly tell us about the Port of Riga, highlighting its key features and current challenges?

The Port of Riga is significantly impacted by economic processes, which have become increasingly challenging due to the regional geopolitical situation. The logistics supply chains that operated before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been completely disrupted. As a result, the port must adapt, and businesses are forced to redirect their operations, sometimes starting up entirely new ventures. In recent years, transit shipments of energy resources like coal and petroleum have disappeared, while container cargo, timber, and agricultural shipments have increased. The port authority continues major investment projects to modernise infrastructure, strengthen commercial competitiveness, and enhance military mobility. Businesses operating in the port are also expanding, building new warehouses, modernising berths, and developing new logistics routes. Additionally, digitalisation and green energy initiatives are growing, including digital cargo processing systems, solar energy parks, and sustainable terminal technologies. These efforts ensure that the Port of Riga remains competitive and aligned with evolving global trade and energy trends.

What is your long-term vision for the Port of Riga?

A modern port is no longer just a cargo transshipment hub. Together with leading port businesses, we are transforming the Port of Riga into a high-value industrial cluster, integrating logistics service providers, modern manufacturing, and innovation and research centres. We will continue to invest in the comprehensive digitalisation and automation of the port, as well as in green energy, environmental, and community projects, laying the foundations for the long-term sustainability of the Port of Riga, the city, and Latvia as a whole. The port’s growth is driven by continuous value creation, transparent governance, broad collaboration, and responsible long-term policies.

What are the main investment projects for the next few years? Following ESPO’s investment study, ports have 80 billion investment needs for the next ten years? What is your main investment challenge?

Definitely, everything related to energy transition infrastructure is of paramount importance. The deadline for the mandatory onshore power supply is fast approaching fast but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the many EU ports about how to solve the grid connection challenges. There is no single bullet.

Ports are now very much profiled as “clean energy hubs”. They can play a role in the supply of new energies, both for shipping but also from the wider economy and society. Do you see this role as well for the Port of Riga. If so, what is the role of the port managing body in a landlord model?

I have mentioned this before and haven’t changed my opinion. For some time now, it has become a trendy cliché in the strategy of many ports to declare that they will become a clean or green energy hub. But not every EU port should, and certainly not every will, become an energy hub. I think it is quite overexpressed. What is important is that each EU port makes the best use of its capabilities to contribute to the common Europe’s sustainable future, and energy is just one of the key sectors. It’s true that ports can play a more active role in developing and transporting renewable energy and new energy products than in the days of traditional fossil energy trading In Riga, we try to be a facilitator, bringing together existing energy consuming/CO2-emitting industry players, green energy project developers, academia, municipalities and relevant ministries in view of defining and gathering the best ideas on how to produce or transport new fuels in the existing environment.

Regarding the new cruise terminal planned for 2027 at the Port of Riga, what are the key benefits and challenges associated with this project to support its aspirations of becoming a homeport for international cruises?

A new, modern passenger terminal offers Riga the opportunity to restore regular ro-pax ferry traffic, increase the number of cruise and tourist passengers, and generate long-term revenue for the port, city, and economy. The winning design by Zaha Hadid Architects for the Riga Ro-pax terminal has gained strong international interest and positive feedback, supporting the project’s further development. Design work is ongoing, and port infrastructure is being prepared to ensure safe ship access. Key challenges include securing financing, starting construction, attracting cruise lines, and finalising agreements with operators to resume regular ro-pax services. According to the current timeline, the project is expected to be fully completed by 2030.

On 9 September 2024, an agreement was signed between the Freeport of Riga Authority and the Lithuanian company SNG Solar, for the lease of land in the Spilve Meadows area of the Latvian port. Could you please explain the implications of this partnership agreement for the port and the city?

The signed agreement for the land lease and construction of a solar power plant will not only provide greener energy for the port and its stevedores but also represents an important step towards the efficient development of the Spilve area and the planned Spilve Industrial Park. By opening the door for millions of euros of investment to flow into the Port of Riga, we are simultaneously promoting renewable energy production, progress towards green goals and energy independence, as well as supporting the development of hydrogen and alternative fuel technologies.

In light of growing concerns that Europe’s competitiveness may be under threat, what actions can be taken to not only safeguard but also strengthen its position on the global stage? Specifically, how can we ensure that Europe’s ports remain resilient, efficient, and competitive, contributing to the overall economic and strategic goals of the region and at the EU level?

There is no simple answer to this. The war in Ukraine has thrown a lot of long-term strategies into disarray, particularly those related to global trade and transport. It is absolutely clear that our environmental goals remain paramount, but we should not ignore the geopolitical changes and their implications, and as well as how they align with the existing EU regulatory initiatives such as ETS, AI Act, etc. Without the EU industry being competitive at the global level (which includes ports) we will not be able to achieve emission-free and sustainable future, not in the timeframe that has been set.

Could you share with us how you started your career in the maritime sector and what was your professional path that led you to your current role as Chair of ESPO and CEO of the Port of Riga?

When I was growing up, I never thought that my l career would be in the maritime and transport industry. I had a typical childhood dream of becoming a firefighter, an aeroplane pilot or an astronaut. I liked medicine, natural sciences and geography. Perhaps my willingness to get to know the world and visit places I had never seen (when I was in elementary school, it was in the Soviet era with practically no opportunity to travel outside the USSR) led me to maritime studies, as seafaring was a chance to travel the world.

After graduating from the Latvian Maritime Academy in 1998, I spent a few years on board oil tankers, working as a ship officer for various shipping companies. In early 2000 I came ashore to join the Latvian Maritime Administration, the national government agency responsible for maritime safety, seafarer certification, hydrography and many other specific maritime-related areas. This was the beginning of my career in the maritime industry, which gave me the opportunity to participate in the work of many regional and international fora such as IMO, IHO and HELCOM, the early days of the EU agency EMSA, Latvia’s accession to the EU and participation in the work of the relevant EU institutions. So, I have been in the maritime industry for 27 years now.

Lastly, if you had to bring us to your favourite spot in the Port of Riga, where would you take us?

At the very end of the Easter Breakwater, in late spring, just before sunset, there’s a serene silence. It’s that peaceful time of year when the Gulf of Riga rests like a mirror, perfectly calm. These are the first days before summer, when the air becomes warm and the salty smell of the sea mixes with the delicate scent of blossoming trees. In the distance, the faint sounds of the city and the port whisper through the evening.
Source: ESPO