Gothenburg Port Authority Sustainability Report now available

The Port of Gothenburg has been in operation for 400 years and has a pivotal role to play in the success of Swedish industry. The port is stepping up the pace with an even more consistent focus on sustainability.

“We are investing extensively in digitalisation of the port, and we have imposed stringent climate stipulations in an effort to reduce carbon emissions by 70 per cent through to 2030. At the same time, we are focusing on our port investment and development programme, including deepening of the fairways, and expanding quay capacity. The underlying aim behind everything we do is to create future growth potential,” said Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive.

In 2019, Gothenburg Port Authority continued to pursue the work that was already under way to ensure long-term sustainable development. ‘Sustainable Port 2019’ is now available, and this year the main focus on plans and ambitions for the future.

“We will be the world’s most competitive port. This doesn’t mean that we will be the biggest or cheapest. It means that we will be the most sustainable port in the long term. The Port of Gothenburg will be the port of choice when it comes to transporting freight to and from Scandinavia,” said Elvir Dzanic.

Prioritised issue for the Board of Directors
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in Scandinavia, and it has a vital part to play in facilitating access for Swedish industry to the world. It is important for the Port Authority to identify the challenges that will emerge in the future. Cecilia Magnusson took over as chair of Gothenburg Port Authority in 2019 and she is fervent in her quest for greater collaboration and ensuring sustainability issues figure prominently on the agenda.

“Two areas that are close to my heart are sharing experiences with other ports and sustainability. Sustainability is complex and it will prove crucial if the port is to develop and become even more competitive. This must permeate everything we do, and it is essential that we highlight the work that is being done and how we intend to move forward in the years to come. The 2019 sustainability report is an excellent example of how we are working transparently with these fundamental issues,” said Cecilia Magnusson.

Points of interest from the Port of Gothenburg
In this year’s sustainability report the Port Authority has opted to highlight specific points of interest in its sustainability programme. Readers can find out how a ship is berthed, and they become better acquainted with key aspects of the port’s safety and security work. They can also discover more about the new transloading terminal – Sveaterminalen.

Milestones in 2019
During the past year a number of important milestones were reached at the port:

Arendal: Work continued during the year on the port’s three major infrastructure projects. A new port area is being created at Arendal, a rail-sea transloading terminal has begun to take shape, and preparations are being made to deepen the fairway. These projects are continuing according to plan and they are all central elements in the port’s long-term strategy, reinforcing its position as a freight hub, and focusing on the work taking place at the different companies.

Shoreside power: The Port Authority has decided to expand the shoreside power system for vessels berthed at the Älvsborg Terminal, and the number of containers transported by rail has reached record numbers. Both these developments will help reduce emissions into the atmosphere generated by shipping in Gothenburg. Measures taken by the terminal operators during the year included a transition to HVO-fuelled port machinery, and enhanced digitalisation to improve efficiency.

Sharing of experience: The Port Authority frequently takes part in research projects aimed at developing its operations and learning more about innovative solutions of the future. We also collaborate with other ports to acquire knowledge that will benefit society as a whole. These are just a selection of the most important contributions to the sustainability work that is taking place throughout the port.

Reporting according to GRI
For the fifth year in succession the report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative. These international guidelines facilitate comparison of sustainability status with other organisations.

It is the eighth year in succession that Gothenburg Port Authority has published a separate sustainability report, outlining the initiatives taken by the Port Authority and the challenges it is facing within sustainable development. The complete sustainability report, ‘Sustainable Port 2019’, is now available as a flip-page, print-friendly PDF version and can be downloaded HERE.