Port of Gothenburg awards €18 mln dredging contract to deepen Skandia Gateway fairway

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The Port of Gothenburg has awarded a SEK 202 million contract, equivalent to approximately EUR 18 million, to Boskalis Sweden AB for blasting and dredging works under the Skandia Gateway project. The agreement marks a key step in efforts to deepen the port’s fairway and accommodate larger vessels calling at Scandinavia’s largest gateway.

The contract follows a competitive tender process involving five contractors. According to project leadership, Boskalis was selected based on its track record in similar marine infrastructure works.

Jan Andersson, Project Manager for Skandia Gateway at the port, pointed to the contractor’s experience as a decisive factor. He said the company brings solid expertise in complex dredging and blasting operations, which are critical for the next phase of the project.

At the core of the project is a planned increase in the fairway depth from the current 13.5 metres to a maximum of 17.5 metres. For shipping lines, that difference is not just technical. It determines whether vessels can arrive fully loaded or must sail with unused capacity.

In practical terms, deeper access allows larger container vessels to call without cargo restrictions. For a port that already handles the largest ocean going vessels serving Sweden, the upgrade is about staying competitive as ship sizes continue to grow.

Think of it as widening and deepening a highway at the same time. Without it, traffic can still move, but not at full efficiency.

The dredging contract comes after more than a year of preparatory works inside the port. Since spring 2024, quay reinforcement has been underway at the container terminal. These upgrades are necessary to handle the increased loads and pressures that come with deeper water and larger ships.

Andersson described the contract as one of the final major milestones within the port’s scope of the Skandia Gateway programme. He added that the project remains on schedule and within the previously communicated budget.

Project organisation preparations will now begin ahead of the construction window. Dredging and blasting activities are scheduled to take place between October 2026 and March 2027, aligning with the next dredging season.

Once the port’s internal works are completed, responsibility will shift to the Swedish Maritime Administration. That phase will focus on dredging the fairway outside the port area, extending from the basin toward the port entrance.

These external works are planned to begin in autumn 2027, highlighting the phased and coordinated nature of the overall project.

The Skandia Gateway initiative is a collaboration between the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Transport Administration, and the Port of Gothenburg. Each stakeholder is responsible for different segments of the fairway upgrade.

The project is positioned as a long term investment in Sweden’s direct access to global shipping networks. As vessel sizes increase across major trade lanes, ports face a clear question. Adapt infrastructure or risk losing direct calls.

For Gothenburg, the stakes are straightforward. Without deeper access, larger vessels may bypass the port or operate below optimal capacity. With it, the port strengthens its role as a primary gateway for Swedish imports and exports.

The dredging contract awarded to Boskalis represents a tangible step in that direction, moving the project from preparation into execution.

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