| The Port of Kaliningrad is on the Pregolya River upstream from the Frisches Lagoon on the western coast of Russia near its border with Poland. Separated from the rest of the Russian federation by Lithuania, the province of Kaliningrad was at one time the capital of East Prussia. Port History Teutonic Knights built a fortress there in 1255, and the town of Konigsberg grew around it. Konigsberg was given civic privileges in 1286 and entered the Hanseatic League in 1340. The Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights made it his home from 1457, and the dukes of Prussia lived there from 1525 to 1618. Shifting and silting of channels to the harbor limited trade for many years, and wars damaged the city. But by the beginning of the 18th Century, the city had largely recovered. In 1701, the first king of Prussia was crowned Frederick I in the city's castle. The Napoleonic wars brought much suffering to the city, and it was the site for planning Prussia's successful uprising. A railway system was opened between Prussia and Russia, stimulating the Port of Kaliningrad's commerce and making it an important export point for Russian grain, flax, hemp, and seeds. During the 19th Century, the Port of Kaliningrad was the second most important naval base for Prussia, and then Germany. Modern fortifications were started in the mid-19th Century and finished in 1905. During World War I, the Russians tried unsuccessfully to take the city. The Red Army all but destroyed it during World War II, leaving several important medieval buildings in ruins. After the war, Konigsberg came under the control of the U.S.S.R., and the city was renamed Kaliningrad. Rebuilt in 1946, the Port of Kaliningrad became an important industrial and commercial port connected to the Baltic by a 32-kilometer dredged channel. German residents were evicted in 1947, and new settlers were imported from Russia and Belarus. The city was transformed into a mix of Soviet developments and old German landmarks, including the grave of philosopher Immanuel Kant. The Port of Kaliningrad was closed to foreigners until 1991. Port Commerce Today, the Port of Kaliningrad is home to many industries - fishing, engineering, machinery, papermaking, and lumber. The Port of Kaliningrad hosts three stevedoring companies that operate their own warehouses, storage areas, and cargo-handling facilities. Port facilities include quays of over 3 kilometers with 20 berths, including 2 roll-on/roll-off ramps. The Port of Kaliningrad has over 4 hectares of shed space, including 4 thousand square meters of refrigerated shed. The State Fishery Port handles general cargoes, including frozen meat and fish, bulk and liquid fertilizers, roll-on/roll-off cargo, and oil. This port area contains over 3 kilometers of quay, 6 hectares of shed space, and 70 thousand cubic meters of tank capacity. Cruising and Travel The City of Kaliningrad has the most temperate climate in Russia, and it's the only Russian port that is open year-round. Visitors will enjoy visiting in summer and walking along the sandy beaches. Even the winters are better here than in the rest of Russia. During the hottest months of summer, temperatures are in the lower 70s. |
