Latvia

LHS provides distribution of the charts and publications both in Latvia and abroad. Bilateral Agreements have been signed with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and Hydrographic Service of Germany about the inclusion of Latvian charts in their chart collections.

At the moment LHS chart collection consists of 22 navigational paper charts and 21 Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). Hydrographic Service issues on average four paper charts every year. There are new editions of the charts or reissued charts, depending on every year’s plans.

LHS ENC collection consists of 21 cells, which comply with the requirements of IHO standard S-57 3.1 and are regularly updated according to IMO and IHO requirements. LHS has fulfilled the requirements of supplement 9 of the HELCOM Recommendation 22 E/5 - to provide a full coverage for the main ports and ship routes in electronic navigational charts by the year 2004. Official Latvian ENC distributor is Norwegian company PRIMAR.

Navigational charts and publications can be ordered by F: +371 6786 0082 or [email protected]

Prior to arrival of a ship at the port the ship Agent, or in their absence, a shipping company or the Master of the vessel, shall enter the following information into the national SSN system:

The information shall be notified:

The documents referred to in a), b), c) and d) above shall be submitted at least 2 hours before the estimated time of arrival of a ship at the port at the first berth.

The documents referred to in e) and f) above shall be submitted:

If it is intended to unload goods subject to veterinary, phytosanitary, food safety control, control of safety of non-food products, quality and classification control from a ship, Agent, or in their absence, shipping company or the Master of the ship, shall make a notation thereon in the national SSN system (concurrently with the submitting the ship’s Cargo Manifest).

Western-quality dental care can be obtained in Riga. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, particularly if immigration status in Latvia is unclear.

Ambulance service for emergencies is available by dialling 113 from a mobile phone anywhere in Latvia. Air ambulance service is available for medical evacuations; however, it is very expensive and advance payment or guarantee letter from an insurance company is required before a patient is transported.

Pharmaceuticals sold in Latvia are produced by companies certified in accordance with the EU standards. Products of most major pharmaceutical manufacturers are sold in pharmacies in Latvia; however, instructions are often not printed in English.

Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are common to Latvia, especially in the summer months. Hepatitis A and Tuberculosis are significant problems in Latvia.

Det Norske Veritas Classification AS (DNV). 23A - 211 Duntes Street, Riga, LV-1005. T: +371 6732 5010. F: +371 6735 6270. [email protected]

Germanischer Lloyd (GL). 39/1 - 53 Tomsona Street, Riga, LV-1013. Tel/ F: +371 6738 3983. [email protected]

Lloyd’s Register (LR). 2A - 528 Elizabetes Street, Riga, LV-1340. T: +371 67 321051; +371 67 325642. F: +371 6783 0103. [email protected]

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS). 4, 1C - 201 Torņa Street, Riga, LV-1050. T: +371 6735 9669. F: +371 6722 0467. [email protected]

Rescue Coordination Centre maintains constant watch on 2182.0 kHz, VHF CH 16, call sign RIGA RESCUE RADIO. Radiotelex - ARQ selective number 6060 RMRCC LV, scanning all GMDSS ARQ distress and safety frequencies. DSC selective call number 002750100, watching 2187.5 kHz distress and safety frequency; VHF CH 70 DSC.

The reported CO 2 emissions, together with additional data, are to be verified by independent certified bodies and sent to a central database managed by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The aggregated ship emission and efficiency data will be published by the EC by 30 June 2019 and then every consecutive year.

Ship owners and operators shall monitor the CO 2 emissions of their vessels per voyage conducted into, between and out of EU (and EFTA) ports. A voyage is defined as any movement of a ship that originates from, or terminates in, a port of call (EU port) and that serves the purpose of transporting passengers or cargo for commercial purposes.

All major credit cards are accepted and there are plenty of ATM machines for withdrawing local currency using Cirrus and credit cards.

Please be aware that there are numerous scam artists targeting foreigners in the tourist pubs and restaurants. There have been a number of reports of foreign tourists being charged exorbitant prices for drinks in bars; some have then been assaulted or forced to withdraw money from an ATM to pay the bill. This can be avoided by ensuring that drinks prices are checked before ordering drinks, pay for one round at a time, and seek recommendations for bars from trustworthy sources. There have also been a few cases of tourists and residents being drugged in bars and restaurants and then taken outside or to their residences and robbed. If possible, you should avoid walking alone at night and avoid using ATMs after dark.

Transit Latvia, Ministry of Transport & Communications, 3 Gogola Street, LV-1743 Riga, Latvia. Tel: +371 702 8351. Fax: +371 702 8306. [email protected] Contact: Maritime Affairs Department.