Societal benefit
The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Scandinavia that offers direct services between Europe and the Far East – a route that is served by the world’s largest container vessels. Following completion of the Skandia Gateway project, the fairway and the harbour basin will be 17.5 metres deep. This investment is strategically important for Swedish industry, as it assures future imports and exports using direct services.
Significant environmental and societal gains
Vessels that are deeper and broader can make direct calls from other continents and arrive with more freight per vessel, offering significant environmental and economic gains. Higher freight volumes per vessel improve transport efficiency, generating economies of scale.
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest and most prominent freight hub in Scandinavia, offering a nationwide catchment area in which a sustainable rail network is prioritised for freight transport. Climate impact can be reduced significantly if freight is transported over long distances using an electrified rail system instead of by road.
Environment
Planned measures, including deepening and broadening of the fairway and quay reinforcement, require an environmental permit under the Environmental Code. An application for an environmental permit was submitted to the Land and Environment Court in autumn 2020. A number of inquiries and investigations has been conducted, and an environmental impact assessment will be prepared.
Consultation
The preparation of an environmental impact assessment is a process, and a key part of this process is consultation. Consultation involves providing information about planned measures and obtaining data from public authorities, associations, organisations, and the general public that would form part of the assessment. Consultation took place during spring and summer 2020. Read more about the consultation process here.
The environmental impact assessment includes an investigation of the effects of turbidity, noise, vibrations, and air emissions. Experience gained from dredging, blasting, and piling is invaluable when assessing the impact and consequences of planned measures. This is demonstrated by the experience gained from the projects that were run in 2002-2004. Back then similar measures were implemented in the fairway, harbour basin, and the eastern part of the Skandia Harbour. With the requisite management and monitoring, the projects could be completed without any lasting negative impact on the environment. Permission was granted on 29 September 2022.
Financing
Cost
The cost of the joint Skandia Gateway Project is estimated to be SEK 2.5 billion kronor and will be divided equally between the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Transport Administration – SEK 1,255 billion – and the Gothenburg Port Authority – up to SEK 1,255 billion. This sum will cover:
- Deepening of the fairway for vessels with a draught of up to 17.5 m
- Deepening and broadening of the harbour basin at the west quayside
- Deeper berths and quay reinforcement
If other quays are to be deepened, this will require a separate decision by the Gothenburg Port Authority and its owners. During the planning process the project will be costed by NCC, and we will have a more accurate cost estimate by the end of 2022.
