Sweden’s government bodies back Gothenburg project

Skandia Gateway, a project aimed at deepening the channel leading into the Port of Gothenburg, will be fully financed by the Swedish Transport Administration and the Gothenburg City Council.

The city council passed a resolution on 10 September to grant more than US$140 million for the project, while the Swedish Transport Administration will match the sum as part of the national infrastructure plan.

Skandia Gateway is a joint project being run by the Gothenburg Port Authority, the Swedish Maritime Administration, and the Swedish Transport Administration. With funding now in place, the three organisations can move forward and enter into an implementation agreement.

Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive, describes Skandia Gateway as “the most important port project in Sweden this century,” as it will help Gothenburg to retain the role of the logistics capital of Scandinavia.

As ships continue to grow in size and require a deeper draught, development of the fairway is crucial, according to the announcement. The expansion project will support the port to receive the largest ships fully loaded, while at the moment giant vessels can only call at Gothenburg half loaded.