Remediation of the historically polluted site at the Liepaja Port Karosta Canal

Project facts

Project promoter:
Liepaja Special Economic Zone Authority(LV)
Project Number:
LV-CLIMATE-0004
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€4,737,717
Donor Project Partners:
Norwegian Institute for Water Research(NO)
Other Project Partners
Association Baltic Coasts(LV)

More information

Description

Liepāja Special Economic Zone Authority project “Purification of the Karosta canal of the historically polluted place of Liepāja port. Phase II ” is implemented with the aim to reduce the negative impact of historically polluted sediments of the Karosta Canal on the environment, human health and the good ecological status of the Baltic Sea. In order to achieve the goal, 145 199 m3 of sediments that do not comply with the legal norms, in which 298 tons of hazardous chemicals have been incorporated, will be removed from the channel bed within the framework of remediation works.

The project is implemented together with the Latvian partner – the association "Baltijas Krasti" and the Norwegian partner – the institute "Norwegian Water Research Institute". The experience of the partners is essential to achieve the project''s objectives, as knowledge transfer is necessary for the success of the project and public awareness activities are needed on the effects of climate change on historically polluted sites and their interaction with human health and marine ecology.

As a result of the project, 68,535 residents of Liepāja city will not be exposed to the risk of historical pollution in the future and the ecological condition of the sea and the quality of the surrounding environment will be significantly improved.

The project will benefit the whole of society by promoting the objectives and actions of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Baltic Sea Action Plan - restoring the good ecological status of the Baltic Sea – ensuring marine ecological diversity and dynamism, cleanliness, health and productivity in marine environments, the environment is used sustainably, preserving the potential for the use of marine waters for this and future generations.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.