Luleå dredging project contracts signed

The agreement between the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Port of Luleå and contractor Malmporten Dredging Contractors (MDC) marks the final milestone before construction starts on the SEK5.7 billion (€490 million) project, which is expected to be completed in August 2030.

“We are delighted to have this agreement in place,” said Erik Eklund, director general of the Swedish Maritime Administration.

“The Malmporten project is an investment that will strengthen Sweden’s long-term competitiveness and support economic growth across the country.”

The Malmporten project is designed to increase the port’s capacity to accommodate larger vessels, supporting growing exports from northern Sweden’s mining, steel and emerging green industries. Between 2027 and 2030, approximately 40km of fairway and the harbour basin will be dredged, with around 13 million cubic metres of material to be removed.

The project has been jointly led by the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Port of Luleå since 2013 in response to long-term demand for improved maritime transport infrastructure.

The remaining dredging works will be carried out by MDC, a joint venture between Boskalis and Van Oord, which also completed preparatory dredging works on the project in 2024.

“With this contract in place, Sweden’s largest-ever dredging project can now move into the implementation phase,” Eklund said. “Together with the introduction of our new larger icebreaker, the project will significantly strengthen capacity and enhance the competitiveness of northern Sweden by the winter of 2030/31.”

According to the Port of Luleå, the expanded infrastructure will improve both transport efficiency and environmental performance by enabling larger, more efficient vessels to call at the port.

“This is a decisive step in preparing the Port of Luleå for future demand,” said Anders Dahl, chief executive of the Port of Luleå. “Increased capacity is essential for the mining industry, the steel sector and new industrial investments in northern Sweden. It also provides our customers with the long-term certainty they need to invest and grow.”