Larger vessels require deeper harbours

The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden that can receive the world’s largest vessels. At present they are unable to do so fully loaded. To address this problem and ensure Swedish industry is able to meet the demands of the future, extensive deepening of the fairway is required. The project, known as Skandia Gateway, is being run jointly by the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Port of Gothenburg. An application was submitted to the Land and Environment Court in December, a design-build contractor has been appointed, and we have secured funding from our owners.

The project in practice

The area that needs to be deepened is almost five kilometres long and 11 million cubic metres of clay will need to be dredged. This will increase the maximum depth for ships from the current 13.5 metres to 16,5-17.5 metres. In addition, the turning circle outside the Container Terminal needs to be widened. Quays and terminal areas will be reinforced when the harbor basin is deepened by up to 7 m, allowing two large vessels to be handled at the same time.

83%

quick facts icon

83% of Sweden's foreign trade is shipped by sea and the Port of Gothenburg is the only Swedish port that can receive the world's largest ocean-going ship.

quick facts icon

83%

83% of Sweden's foreign trade is shipped by sea and the Port of Gothenburg is the only Swedish port that can receive the world's largest ocean-going ship.

0%

83% of Sweden's foreign trade is shipped by sea and the Port of Gothenburg is the only Swedish port that can receive the world's largest ocean-going ship.

0%

83% of Sweden's foreign trade is shipped by sea and the Port of Gothenburg is the only Swedish port that can receive the world's largest ocean-going ship.

From vision to reality

As current conditions prevent certain vessels from visiting Sweden, work needs to begin as quickly as possible. Preparations began in 2019, the Port of Gothenburg began quay reinforcement work in February 2024, and the Swedish Maritime Administration plan to begin dredging in the autumn of 2026.

The project is scheduled for completion at around the turn of the year 2027/2028.

Jan Andersson

Projektledare Skandiaporten

+46 31 368 75 27

jan.andersson@portgot.se

Elin Dörrheide

Biträdande Projektledare Skandiaporten

+46 31 368 75 87

elin.dorrheide@portgot.se

Cecilia Lööf

Head of Marketing & Communications

+46 739 503 297

cecilia.loof@portgot.se

Jenny Röström

Projektledare Skandiaporten, Sjöfartsverket

Stefan Lang

Kommunikatör, Sjöfartsverket

MORE INFORMATION

Would you like to know more about Skandia Gateway?

On the project page, you will find all the information as well as news and updates about the Skandia Gateway project. Click the button below to go visit the site.