Press release -
Port of Gothenburg – finishing line for the Volvo Ocean Race
On October 4, the world's largest sailing race – Volvo Ocean Race – will get under way. After nine months at sea, the seven teams will finally cross the finishing line in Gothenburg in June 2015. The Port of Gothenburg is the official homecoming partner for the race.
"We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to welcome the crews as they arrive at Volvo's hometown and the largest port in Scandinavia," said Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.
This is the first time since 2006 that the race has ended in Volvo's hometown of Gothenburg. The port is the official homecoming partner for the race and this is a role that will be used to showcase the port internationally.
"The Volvo plant is located immediately beside the port and we have shipped cars and trucks all over the world from the very beginning. It therefore feels quite natural to support the Volvo Ocean Race and have the opportunity to present our modern, sustainable port," Magnus Kårestedt continued.
The most demanding sailing race in the world
The race, often described as the most demanding sailing race in the world, will
start from the home port of Alicante on October 4. From there the seven boats
will sail around the world for nine months. The route, which is 38,739 nautical
miles long, includes port stops in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE),
Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Newport, Rhode Island
(USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). The route is full of challenges
and is said to be the toughest yet in the 40-year history of the race.
Eventful homecoming
The ships will cross the finishing line on Sunday, June 21 at Frihamnen although
the race will not be fully completed until the following weekend when there
will be the concluding In-Port Race within the Port of Gothenburg.
According to Magnus Kårestedt, the final week will be packed with events and activities. "This is a fantastic opportunity for us to invite along customers and partners."
A delegation from Gothenburg Port Authority will also be present at a number of the nine stopovers in order to market the port although it has yet to be decided which stopovers will be visited.
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Fact file: Port of Gothenburg
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region with 11,000 visits by vessels each year. 30 per cent of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 60 per cent of all container traffic.
The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 25 rail shuttles that depart each day mean that companies throughout Sweden and Norway have a direct, environmentally smart link to the largest port in the Nordic region. The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers.
