July 29, 1252  Curonian bishop and vice-regent of Livonian Order signed the agreement, that was approved by the ruler of Lithuania Mindaugas. Following this agreement Klaipeda castle was built. In the small port neighboring the castle, vessels of Lubeck and Bremen merchants used to moor.

 

In the middle of the 16th century Klaipeda rivals, the inhabitants of Danzig, overloaded the Dane port with stones, therefore till 1820 only small vessels could call the port. 

 

In 1743 the first timber trade office was founded in Klaipeda. Klaipeda port was the most famous timber trading port Baltic – wide.

 

The chronicle of 1797 mentions that Klaipeda port consists of: the Dane river port and a big water basin in the strait of the Curonian Lagoon. Timber was handled in the port, accommodating more than 300 vessels at a time.

 

In 1919 when Germany lost the First World War, following Versal Agreement, Klaipeda port was transferred to Antante Alliance, and the Prime – Minister of France declared that “Klaipeda region has always been a Lithuanian one”.

 

June 27, 1923 a big meeting was held having heard the news that Klaipeda port was going to be transferred to Klaipeda town.

 

May 8, 1924  Klaipeda Convention was signed in Paris. Following this convention the management of Klaipeda port was passed to the port directorate, consisting of the representatives of the Lithuanian State, Klaipeda region and the Union of Nations.

 

1924-1939 is a period when Klaipeda port was at its flourishing peak – new quays were constructed, various companies started to operate, Lithuanian Shipping Company was founded. The state of Lithuania invested into the development of the port 42 million. litas.

 

In 1963 the first renewed Sea Festival took place. Today this festival is becoming the important mass event.

 

In 1986 the new International Ferry Terminal was constructed. The Terminal was constructed for serving Soviet Army, located in Germany. The biggest in the world rail ferries started to operate.

 

June 3, 1991  following the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications the state enterprise Klaipeda State Seaport Authority was founded and since 1993 it started managing the state-owned port infrastructure.

 

In 1993-2006 Klaipeda State Seaport Authority and stevedoring companies invested nearly 2 billion Litas (nearly 600 million Euro) into the developments of the port.