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Back to SSG 20
Photo: Hurra/Ports of Stockholm
Project Norvikudden:
Ports of Stockholm do it by themselves
The first call at the new container and ro-ro port Norvikudden in Nynäshamn (south of Stockholm) is scheduled for 2011. The owner, Ports of Stockholm, projects a capacity of ten million tons of goods annually. The financing is arranged without government subsidies.
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Björn Neckman, head of Public Affairs at Ports of Stockholm.
Photo: Hurra/Ports of Stockholm |
“There is a huge pressure on the Baltic Sea, trade volumes increase all the time and this is the second largest economic growth area in the world. Norvikudden must be implemented and we are not dependent on government subsidies”, says Björn Neckman, head of Public Affairs at Ports of Stockholm.
The process of increasing port capacity in the Stockholm region has been long. But finally, earlier this year, the board of Ports of Stockholm’s took the decision to build a new container and ro-ro port in Norvikudden, Nynäshamn, to best meet future needs. Close to 95 per cent of Sweden’s international trade goes by water.
“Norvikudden will play an important role in the competitiveness of the region’s
trade and industry, and also in the supply of goods. The population is estimated to grow by 270,000 until 2019 in the county of Stockholm. And in the Mälardalen region a huge population growth is expected until 2030. It is obvious that we have to strengthen the infrastructure”, says Björn Neckman.
“Stockholm has limited options to handle increased container traffic, and there is not enough land for port extensions. Norvikudden has both a strategic location and a lot of land to build on.”
No support from the government
Around SEK 1.7 billion is required to enable the infrastructure. The financing is ready, Ports of Stockholm and their owner the City of Stockholm, will raise the money. Interest from the government has been cool; no subsidies will be earmarked for the huge project.
In the newly presented inquiry on future strategic ports in Sweden, where the government will put in money for infrastructure development, Norvikudden was not one of the chosen targets.
Earlier the government had decided not to support Ports of Stockholm’s application for EU funds within the project Motorways of the Sea. The fund level is up to 20 per cent of investment costs.
“These decisions are not dramatic for us, but it is remarkable that the government does not encourage projects with such a clear focus on economic growth and environmental considerations. Ports of Stockholm still continues the work of submitting an application for EU funds together with the ports in Hamburg, Rostock, Åbo, Nådendal and Kristianstad. The large profit is the effective sea traffic system we are building up. And in Brussels economic growth and environment issues are placed high on the agenda, so the project should have a good chance to attract attention.”
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| Photo: Hurra/Ports of Stockholm |
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60 hectares of land
Ports of Stockholm have invested SEK 100–140 million annually for some time in their different activities. Among the projects is the building of new quays in Nynäshamn. The huge plan for Norvikudden will be a further evolvement of the existing port in Nynäshamn.
Ports of Stockholm have 60 hectares of land at their disposal in Norvikudden and will build up two large port areas with nine quays of totally 1,800 metres. The water depth is 16 metres; the capacity fits Baltic Sea-max.
The calculated capacity for handling goods volumes is 300,000 TEUs annually in the container area, plus 200,000 TEUs in transhipment options to other ports. The container activities will move completely from Ports of Stockholm’s base in Frihamnen, Stockholm to Norvikudden as a result of this project. Concerning ro-ro, the calculated capacity is 300,000 vehicles.
The construction start is scheduled for 2009 with a building period stretching over ten years. If everything runs according to plan, including ready permits, the first call (container) can take place already in 2011.
Ports of Stockholm will operate stevedoring and terminal at the ro-ro division; the scheme at the container division is different.
“As for ro-ro, we manage the infrastructure, but we will close a deal to run the terminal with an international terminal operator, who will be responsible for the commercial part, including matters such as cranes et cetera. We could of course handle the terminal ourselves, but this solution is a way of recognizing the market interest and the port’s attraction. Furthermore, an international operator can offer sustainable employment at the terminal for a long time.”
Adjacent to Norvikudden are 100 hectares of land, owned by the construction and property development company NCC. This area will accommodate companies and also offer terminal space for logistics.
The inland distribution system is favourable with regard to roads. The Swedish Road Administration is now extending road 73 to Nynäshamn to a four-lane motorway. Moreover Nynäshamn is linked to road 259, Södertörnsleden, which is connected to the European highways E4 and E20. In the future Södertörnsleden will also be connected to the planned road system Bypass Stockholm (Förbifart Stockholm), which will ease the traffic congestion around Stockholm.
Concerning rail traffic, the national railway “Nynäsbanan” between Stockholm and Nynäshamn is to be upgraded and later on capable of carrying goods traffic during day and night. Ports of Stockholm are also investigating a train based transport system to increase transport options further.
“We are working on a new railway distribution system in Mälardalen, where we are open for a joint venture to enable implementation. Our intention is to drive on a route around Mälardalen once a day, combined with a train shuttle which runs three times a day between Norvikudden, Årsta and the projected combi-terminal Kombi Norr in Stockholm. We would like to transport around 80,000 containers from Norvikudden by rail annually.”
Criticism from other ports
The project of Norvikudden has been criticised by other ports situated on the Swedish East coast. The managing director of Port of Norrköping, Bengt-Erik Bengtsson, summarized the criticism in a comment in the Scandinavian Shipping Gazette last year:
“The project is based on unreasonable calculations and volume estimates that do not exist. When the container volumes increase in ports in the Baltic and Gulf of Finland, the transoceanic container traffic will call at these ports directly – not Norvikudden.”
Björn Neckman is tired of such arguments:
“The business profile must be considered all the time, you cannot operate future development by slandering others. We have no opinions concerning other ports’ aims and visions. We focus on our conditions to create solutions that are attractive and competitive to our customers; the region’s trade and industry and inhabitants.”
Norvikudden has been introduced as an environmentally friendly commitment. Despite this both The Green Party and The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation have addressed sharp criticism – for example, they fear increased lorry transports.
“You must listen to this kind of criticism, but when Norvikudden and the railway system are complete, the consequence will be 300,000 fewer lorries on the roads annually. Then you can imagine the amount of exhaust fumes and pollution we take off the roads.”
Ports of Stockholm are waiting for the definitive environmental permission for Norvikudden before the construction can start. At the earliest at the beginning of next year negotiations with the Swedish Environmental Court will open.
//Pierre Adolfsson
Latest update 22-10-2007 15:16
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