"The deepening of the port will allow loading vessels with more cargo, which means a more efficient use of the possibilities for transportation by large ships," Vidmantas Paukste, the port's acting CEO, said.
The increasing efficiency will help reduce cargo transportation costs, he added.
The port authority said it had signed a designing and supervision contract worth 47,800 euros, including VAT, with Sweco Lietuva.
Plans call for deepening port waters to 15 meters from the northern part, where the depth is already 15 meters and the maximum draft is 13.8 meters, to Malku Bay in the southern part where the depth currently ranges from 14.3 to 14.9 meters.
Paukste said in January that the planned upgrading of quays, expected to be completed by 2023, would allow large ships to enter the port in any weather and make it possible to deepen the channel up to 17 meters.