Akcinė bendrovė „Smiltynės perkėla“

AB „Smiltynės perkėla“ is a Lithuanian ferry transport company based in Klaipėda. It operates the essential ferry connection between Klaipėda and Smiltynė on the Curonian Spit, running both passenger and vehicle ferries across the Klaipėda Strait (the Port of Klaipėda channel). The company is widely recognized as the sole operator of the regular public ferry services for this crossing, with two primary terminals – the Old Ferry Terminal (Senoji perkėla) for pedestrians and cyclists, and the New Ferry Terminal (Naujoji perkėla) for vehicles.

Company Overview

Legal name: Akcinė bendrovė „Smiltynės perkėla“ (AB „Smiltynės perkėla“)
Industry sector: Water transport; Ferry services; Port and coastal passenger transport
Headquarters: Klaipėda, Lithuania (operational sites at Old Ferry Terminal and New Ferry Terminal in Klaipėda)
Founding: The ferry service dates back many decades in the Port of Klaipėda; the company operates in its joint-stock (AB) form since the post-independence reorganization period (early 1990s). Precise incorporation date not confirmed from publicly accessible sources.

Legal Information

Įmonės kodas (Company code): Not found in publicly accessible sources reviewed for this profile; recommended to verify via Registrų centras or rekvizitai.lt.
PVM kodas (VAT code): Not found in publicly accessible sources reviewed for this profile; recommended to verify via Registrų centras or rekvizitai.lt.
Official website: https://www.smiltynesperkela.lt
Email (general): info@smiltynesperkela.lt (customer/general inquiries; as commonly used by Lithuanian companies; confirm via the official website’s contact page).
Registered office address: The company’s operations and administration are based in Klaipėda at its ferry terminals. A definitive legal registered office address was not identified in the sources reviewed; see terminal addresses below.
Phone (general): Not definitively published in sources reviewed; contact details are usually provided per terminal/service on the official website.

Business Operations

Main services:
- Passenger ferry services between Klaipėda (Old Ferry Terminal) and Smiltynė (Curonian Spit).
- Vehicle and cargo ferry services between Klaipėda (New Ferry Terminal) and Smiltynė, including cars, buses and light cargo.
- Seasonal harbor sightseeing trips and supplemental water transport services (subject to operating season and schedule).

Business model:
- The company operates scheduled ferry lines under regulated public service obligations, collecting fares from passengers and vehicles, with pricing differentiated by passenger type, vehicle class, and season.
- Ancillary revenues from harbor tours, commercial services (e.g., parking/logistics around terminals), and possible concessions.
- Strategic investments focus on fleet renewal and terminal infrastructure modernization (including electrification initiatives).

Market position:
- AB „Smiltynės perkėla“ is the exclusive operator of the routine Klaipėda–Smiltynė ferry crossings, holding a de facto monopoly for the main public link across the port channel. The service is essential for daily commuting, tourism to the Curonian Spit, and regional mobility.

History

Origins: Ferry operations across the Klaipėda Strait have long been part of port logistics and local mobility, with organized services predating Lithuania’s independence. The present joint-stock company structure emerged during the post-1990 reforms, consolidating ferry services under a dedicated operator.

Key milestones (indicative):
- Establishment of AB „Smiltynės perkėla“ during Lithuania’s economic and legal restructuring in the early 1990s.
- Development of two-terminal model: Senoji perkėla (Old Ferry) for pedestrian/cyclist traffic and Naujoji perkėla (New Ferry) for vehicles and cargo.
- Ongoing fleet modernization to improve capacity, safety, and environmental performance.
- Introduction of digital ticketing, online schedules, and customer information systems via the official website and onsite kiosks.

Financial Information

Revenue and financials: Detailed audited revenue figures are not publicly available through the sources reviewed for this profile. As a public service operator with regulated tariffs, the company’s financial performance is closely tied to passenger/vehicle volumes and operational efficiency.

Funding and ownership:
- AB „Smiltynės perkėla“ is a state-related entity. Public information and press frequently indicate state ownership via the transport/port governance framework (e.g., representation through the Ministry of Transport and Communications and/or Klaipėda State Seaport Authority). Exact shareholder listing and percentages were not found in the sources reviewed here; verify via official shareholder registries.
- Capital expenditure projects (fleet renewal, terminal upgrades) may be supported by state funds and/or EU co-financing for green transport and maritime infrastructure where applicable.

Leadership and Management

Executives (vadovai): Names and current positions were not conclusively identified in the sources reviewed. Typically, the company is led by a General Director (Generalinis direktorius) and an operational management team (Operations, Commercial, Technical/Fleet, Finance). Please consult the “Kontaktai” or “Apie mus” sections on the official website for up-to-date leadership details.

Board members: As an AB, the company has a supervisory/management board structure aligned with Lithuanian corporate governance. Current board composition could not be verified in the sources reviewed; check official disclosures or public registries.

Office and Terminal Locations

Senoji perkėla (Old Ferry Terminal):
- Address: Commonly cited as Naujoji Uosto g. (New Port Street) area, Klaipėda. The frequently referenced address in public materials is Naujoji Uosto g. 3, Klaipėda. Please verify via the official website.
- Phone: Not definitively published in sources reviewed.
- Services: Pedestrians, cyclists, and light personal mobility; frequent departures to Smiltynė.

Naujoji perkėla (New Ferry Terminal):
- Address: Nemuno g. 8, Klaipėda (commonly referenced for the vehicle ferry terminal).
- Phone: Not definitively published in sources reviewed.
- Services: Vehicles (cars, buses), cargo units and associated logistics.

Registered office: The administrative base is associated with operations in Klaipėda (linked to the terminal addresses). A precise registered office address could not be confirmed from the sources reviewed; consult official registries or the company’s “Kontaktai” page.

Market Position

Competitors: For the core Klaipėda–Smiltynė crossing, AB „Smiltynės perkėla“ functions as the sole public operator. In ancillary segments (e.g., sightseeing and harbor tours), private maritime companies in Klaipėda may offer complementary services, but they do not compete for the primary inter-channel crossing.

Competitive advantages:
- Exclusive operational role for the essential ferry link across the Klaipėda port channel.
- Integrated terminal infrastructure and schedules aligned with port safety requirements.
- High frequency services tailored to commuter and tourism flows.
- Ongoing modernization (including prospective electrification) enhancing environmental performance and customer experience.

Market share: For the Klaipėda–Smiltynė crossing, market share is effectively 100% for the scheduled public ferry services.

Recent Developments

Fleet modernization and sustainability: Public reports have indicated plans and/or ongoing projects to modernize passenger ferries, including evaluating or procuring electric ferries for the Old Ferry line to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.

Terminal upgrades: Infrastructure enhancements at both terminals (ramps, waiting areas, ticketing kiosks, traffic management) have been part of recent investment cycles, improving throughput and safety.

Digital services: Continued development of online information, ticketing options, and schedule transparency via the official website and onsite systems.

Contact Information

General inquiries:
- Website: https://www.smiltynesperkela.lt
- Email: info@smiltynesperkela.lt
- Phone: Not definitively published in sources reviewed; the official website typically lists per-terminal contact numbers.

Terminals (operational contacts):
- Senoji perkėla (Old Ferry): Address commonly referenced as Naujoji Uosto g. 3, Klaipėda; phone details to be confirmed on the official site.
- Naujoji perkėla (New Ferry): Address commonly referenced as Nemuno g. 8, Klaipėda; phone details to be confirmed on the official site.

Sources and References

Because some legal and managerial details were not fully available in the sources reviewed, please consult official registries for definitive data:

Primary sources:
- Official website: https://www.smiltynesperkela.lt (company overview, schedules, services, contact information).
- Lithuanian Registers (Registrų centras): https://www.registrucentras.lt (for official company code, VAT code, registered office, and corporate filings).
- Rekvizitai.lt company directory: https://www.rekvizitai.lt (for legal and contact data; search: „Smiltynės perkėla, AB“).

Related public information:
- Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania: https://sumin.lrv.lt (ownership and sector governance context).
- Klaipėda State Seaport Authority: https://www.portofklaipeda.lt (sector and infrastructure context).
- Lithuanian media (e.g., Verslo žinios, Vakarų ekspresas) reporting on ferry modernization and service updates (various articles; verify specific pieces and dates).

Note: If exact legal identifiers (įmonės kodas, PVM kodas), executive names, board composition, and registered office phone are required, please verify via the company’s official “Kontaktai” page and the Lithuanian business registry listings. This profile reflects best-effort synthesis from publicly accessible, general-level sources and sector knowledge.