Thorough environmental surveys give fewer delays 

The economic consequences of failing to properly survey soil and groundwater can be substantial, as a port development project in Kaliningrad shows. An extraordinary collaboration between customer and consultant resulted in fewer project changes and delays – not to mention possible lawsuits - and saved the customer about DKK 20 m in additional costs.

The project - an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a new ferry port at Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea – was carried out by COWI for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to assess soil conditions in the planned port area, currently owned by the military.

Access to military site

It was assumed that the area - formerly the site of an oil depot - was polluted. In order to get access to the area, COWI had to go through the process of obtaining the necessary permits from the military authorities. This was done in close co-operation with the EBRD, the Ministry of Transport and the Kaliningrad Port Administration.

Oil “lake” found

The subsequent inspection showed the presence of soil contamination with both diesel oil and heavy fuel oil. A “lake” of oil was found - consisting of oil that most likely was spilled from a leaking pump.

COWI project manager Carsten Jürgensen comments: "The project shows how important it is to carry out a thorough environmental assessment before commencing new construction".

"If the soil pollution had not been found until after the commencement of construction, there would have been a big risk of the construction having to be halted – and the entire project brought to a standstill – in order to carry out clean-up operations. Then the clean-up costs involved could easily have amounted to a sizeable chunk of the DKK 350 m earmarked for the project as a whole."

Kaliningrad port

The new Kaliningrad port will be an extension of the existing military facility, located in the mouth of Kaliningrad Lagoon. The new port will mean that shipping no longer has to sail 20 nautical miles through a man-made canal, and the deep-water harbour will enable large vessels to dock. As well as serving the entire infrastructure of the Kaliningrad enclave, the port provides an important supply line to and from central Russia. 

By: Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com
Published: 16.04.2004