The new service provides a direct connection between Riga and Portuguese ports, while expanding the access of Latvian exporters and importers to European and global markets, the Freeport of Riga Authority announced.
The new service connects the ports of Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Germany, sailing on the route Leixoes – Lisbon – Southampton – Rotterdam – Gdańsk – Rīga – Klaipeda – Gdynia – Bremerhaven – Rotterdam – Leixoes. The ships will call at the port of Rīga once per week.
Ocean Network Express is one of the world's largest container shipping companies. It was formed by merging the container businesses of three Japanese shipping companies - K-Line, MOL and NYK. The company currently operates a fleet of more than 240 vessels on an international network with more than 165 shipping line routes in 120 countries.
Ocean Network Express launched its Baltic Bridge Express (BBX) service in the Port of Riga in January 2025, connecting the ports of the Baltic States and Finland with Rotterdam.
The new service provides a direct connection between Portugal and the Baltic ports, as well as improves the regularity, reliability and transit times of cargo deliveries. Container delivery from Portuguese ports to Rīga is possible in approximately a week, while from Rotterdam it takes four days.
The Port of Riga is currently regularly visited by 9 international container liner ships on 11 routes, providing connections with the most important European and global logistics centres.
In 2025, 495.7 thousand TEU of container cargo were handled at the Port of Riga, which accounted for 98% of all container cargo handled at Latvian ports.
