87 per cent less carbon emissions and a reduction in the transport time of almost one week. That will be the outcome following a decision by yet another forest producer in the north of Sweden to transport its products out into the world via the Port of Gothenburg and its rail network.
With the acute situation in the Suez Canal resolved, still, further delays in European ports await. Measures are now being prepared in the Port of Gothenburg that can both ensure fast transport of Scandinavian goods, and at the same time contribute to alleviating the coming congestion in major European ports.
The Port of Gothenburg is by far the largest container port in Sweden. Official figures recently published show that the port has grown even more in relation to other ports in Sweden and Europe.
A new terminal service is due to commence at the Port of Gothenburg, dedicated to intra-European container transport. The terminal will be located at Skandiahamnen’s western quay and will be operated by APM Terminals.
On Friday 19 March, Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Baylan - together with high profile representatives of global shipping companies and product owners in Sweden - are set to participate in a meeting organized by the Port of Gothenburg. The purpose is to discuss what investments are required in the port and in the Swedish logistics system to strengthen Swedish competitiveness.
Starting on 12 March, the Port of Gothenburg will have a regular direct service to South Africa and Oceania. The Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners will operate the new service, with departures from the Port of Gothenburg every other week.
For the 20th year in succession, the Gothenburg Region has been ranked the best logistics location in Sweden by the Swedish trade journal Intelligent Logistik. The Port of Gothenburg is described as being crucial to this ranking, due in part to its ongoing investment programme, its global service network, and its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Still, the port has challenges going forward.
In an effort to speed up the transition to fossil-free fuels in the transport sector, Volvo Group, Scania, Stena Line, and the Port of Gothenburg have joined forces to bring about a significant reduction in carbon emissions linked to the largest port in the Scandinavia. The aim is to cut emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.
Global logistics in 2020 was marked indelibly by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in considerable fluctuations in demand for industrial products and transport. At the Port of Gothenburg, container volumes for the year showed no sign of being affected by Covid-19. On the contrary, volumes have increased.
The Port of Gothenurg has been working for a long time to encourage ships calling at the port to connect to the shoreside power system when at berth instead of keeping their engines running. The system is currently undergoing tests at yet another quay, enabling even more ships to connect shoreside power within a few weeks. There is the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 650 tonnes per year.
The Skandia Gateway project in Gothenburg has reached a crucial milestone. The environmental impact assessment has been completed, and documents have been submitted for examination by the Land and Environment Court.
What is the smartest way to transport captured carbon dioxide from facility to quayside? To discover the answer, five major energy companies in western Sweden have joined forces in the CinfraCap project. A prestudy commenced in May to determine whether a joint solution could be found for an efficient, sustainable infrastructure for captured carbon dioxide.