EU gives Gothenburg works the go-ahead

With preparatory work already complete, the final hurdle was EC confirmation that the state funding required does not constitute state aid.

Now that this has been received, the port authority says that the Skandia Gateway infrastructure project can now go ahead with the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for February 2024.

“The stage has been set for a long time, and it is with great confidence that we can now press the button and proceed with this project, which is so crucial for the competitiveness of Swedish industry,” said Göran Eriksson, chief executive of the Gothenburg Port Authority.

“It is high time that we get started,” he added.

Over the past 15 years, the capacity of container ships has increased by 50% meaning the largest ships can now only enter the port half-loaded.

The €250 million project will remove 11 million cubic metres of clay, deepening the channel from 13.5 to 17.5 metres. Seven hundred metres of quay will also be reinforced to accommodate the larger vessels and to enable the dredging work.

Work is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026.