Preparing Gothenburg for world’s largest ocean-going vessels

The Skandia Gateway project is already underway and construction is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of next year, the Gothenburg Port Authority informs.

The fairway needs to be deepened to 17.5 metres if the world’s largest ocean-going vessels are to be able to call at the Port of Gothenburg fully loaded.

This will prove crucial if Swedish industry is to have greater access to the world in the future, the Authority said.

“We are keeping to the timetable and looking forward to breaking ground. At the moment we are working with technical solutions, calculations, risk analyses, and other preconstruction work,” said Jan Andersson, Skandia Gateway Project Manager at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

“The environmental permit process is taking place in parallel at the Land and Environment Court. We hope to secure an environmental permit in time for commencement of construction at the beginning of next year.”

The permit application was submitted to the Land and Environment Court just before Christmas last year, and during the spring additional documentation will be provided as necessary.

“Everything is proceeding according to plan and no unexpected opinions or objections have emerged. We are looking forward with confidence to seeing how the process will unfold as we move on to the main hearing,” added Kristina Bernstén, Skandia Gateway Sub-Project Manager, Environment, at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

Skandia Gateway has three funding bodies:

• the Swedish Transport Administration,
• the Swedish Maritime Administration,
• the Gothenburg Port Authority.

The port is responsible for the cost of reinforcing the quays and dredging the docks.