University
News and events
Construction of New LJA Competence Centre Begins: The Only Building of Its Kind in the Country

Construction of New LJA Competence Centre Begins: The Only Building of Its Kind in the Country

November 27, 2025

On Thursday in Klaipėda, on the territory of the VILNIUS TECH Lithuanian Maritime Academy (LJA), a symbolic time capsule containing a letter to future generations was buried, marking the start of construction for the new Maritime Engineering and Renewable Energy Competence Centre. Rising on I. Kanto Street, the 1,500 sq. m building will become the first object of this type, infrastructure, and capability in all of Lithuania, where the sea, science, and innovation meet.

The ceremony of burying the time capsule and signing the letter to future generations was attended by Klaipėda City Mayor Arvydas Vaitkus, VILNIUS TECH Rector Prof. Dr. Romualdas Kliukas, UAB "Versina" Development Director Vytautas Banys, Lithuanian Maritime Academy Director Dr. Justas Žaglinskis, and other members of the university community, partners, and guests.

Rising in Klaipėda in 2026, the unique VILNIUS TECH Lithuanian Maritime Academy Competence Centre will connect the worlds of maritime engineering, renewable energy, and modern training.

This project is an important step for Klaipėda: in the long run, it will strengthen the city's economic potential, attract investment, and create new opportunities for Klaipėda's youth and business.

"Klaipėda has always been and will be the heart of maritime Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Maritime Academy is the pride of our city. Thanks to this higher education institution, we have proven once again that, step by step, we are becoming a capital of innovation. It is very important for the city that this school grows, modernizes, and remains a strong regional center of science and innovation, as well as a modern place where the highest qualification seafarers are trained," rejoiced Klaipėda City Mayor Arvydas Vaitkus.

The expanding LJA infrastructure is significant not only in a local but also in an international context: the advanced competence centre highlights Lithuania's position as a hub of high maritime engineering technologies and innovations in the entire region.

VILNIUS TECH Rector Prof. Dr. Romualdas Kliukas, in his welcome speech, emphasized that the modernizing LJA infrastructure is infinitely important not only for business and science but also for studies: the most advanced learning conditions will educate the new professionals of the maritime industry and engineering.

"Today, we are not just starting construction: we are creating the future and new opportunities for the coming generation of engineers – people who will shape Lithuania's energy and maritime future. The production and use of wind, solar, and hydrogen energy is the future, which is why the laboratories of our unique centre will have all the most advanced conditions to research and acquire necessary, in-demand competencies," shared VILNIUS TECH Rector Prof. Dr. Romualdas Kliukas regarding his vision for the future.

The Maritime Engineering and Renewable Energy Competence Centre will be unique in many senses – it will stand out for its infrastructure, functions, and architecture. It will be built by the Telšiai construction service company UAB "Versina".

"The construction of this centre is a technically complex object where we combine non-standard architectural solutions and specialized infrastructure: from a pool with a wave generator to zones for training regarding working at heights and laboratory spaces. Our task is to ensure that all structural and engineering solutions work in unison, and that the building itself reliably serves future specialists for many years," said UAB "Versina" Development Director Vytautas Banys.

Meeting the Need for Internationally Recognized Specialists

The construction of the Maritime Engineering and Renewable Energy Competence Centre was born from the aspiration of the university, the city, and the state to strengthen Lithuania's maritime competencies and open up to new opportunities.

According to VILNIUS TECH Lithuanian Maritime Academy Director Dr. Justas Žaglinskis, expanding and improving the LJA infrastructure aims not only to increase the academy's attractiveness among future students, scientists, and researchers but also to meet the need for internationally recognized specialists.

Highly qualified seafarers, maritime industry professionals, and offshore wind turbine maintenance specialists will be trained here—the demand for whom is growing rapidly in preparation for the construction of the offshore wind farm in Lithuania's exclusive economic zone.

"The significance of this project is obvious – the Lithuanian Maritime Academy, which has already been strong in training maritime sector specialists, is strengthening even further, expanding its service supply, and further solidifying its positions not only in the context of the Baltic states but also in Europe," stated Dr. J. Žaglinskis.

The Maritime Engineering and Renewable Energy Competence Centre will cover 1,500 sq. m, and thanks to its expressive architectural forms, it will blend harmoniously into the historical environment of Klaipėda's New Town (Naujamiestis). Administrative, specialized educational, and auxiliary premises will be located in the building.

The two main elements of this object are a five-lane, 25-meter-long pool with a wave generator and a training site for working at heights. These and other training spaces will be equipped with advanced equipment allowing for GWO, OPITO HUET, and SOLAS courses, evacuation from ferries, and other practical training for seafarers and maritime industry specialists. Two virtual reality (VR) simulators have been purchased for this purpose: one for training regarding working at heights, and the other for ship bridge simulation, featuring artificial intelligence (AI) functions.

Scientists and students will also be able to work with laboratory equipment that will allow them to acquire competencies related to wind, solar, and hydrogen energy production and use. It is also intended to install a testing ground for unmanned vehicles in the new centre.

"The new infrastructure and equipment will be used intensively in both the study process and training and course activities. It will allow us to improve the quality and conditions of studies and training, expand the supply, and ensure maritime sector specialist training in Lithuania based on modern technologies. Together with ongoing scientific and project activities, I believe this infrastructure will bring us significant results and new opportunities," said LJA Director Dr. J. Žaglinskis.

About 5.5 million euros will be needed for the building's construction, with another approx. 800 thousand euros planned for equipment acquisition. The project "Increasing the quality, efficiency, and international competitiveness of high-qualification water transport sector specialist training by reorganizing the Public Institution Lithuanian Maritime Academy via merger with the Public Institution Vilnius Gediminas Technical University" is funded by the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds, with VILNIUS TECH investments also planned.

VILNIUS TECH constantly invests in infrastructure renewal—improving study, science, work, and living environments. In spring, construction of the new VILNIUS TECH Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI) building began—premises for science, studies, and administration will be established in a modern 840 sq. m extension in 2026.

Currently, the renovation of dormitories and Institute of Building Materials laboratories is also continuing, the Digital Defence Competence Centre is being set up, and a project for renewing the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and amphitheater outdoor spaces is being prepared. In the near future, the renovation of the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences Laboratory Corps I—the largest in the Saulėtekis university campus—will also begin.