The Swedish Government has approved the start of construction for the deepening of the channel in the Gothenburg port, known as the Skandiaporten project, Dagens Nyheter and Göteborgs Posten report. The decision allows for the dredging of eleven million cubic metres of mud and stone at a cost of SEK 2.8 billion ($315 million), with the goal of accommodating the world's largest container ships in four years. This move is crucial for Gothenburg, which handles one-third of Sweden's foreign trade and 65% of the country's container traffic. The decision follows the EU Commission's approval of Sweden's partial financing of the project. The Gothenburg Port Company plans to begin construction within a month, and the total budget involves contributions from the municipality, the state, and EU funding. The Skandiaporten project includes deepening and widening the harbour entrance and strengthening the quays. The Minister for Infrastructure Andreas Carlson (KD) emphasises the importance of increasing capacity in one of the Nordic region's most critical ports. The Gothenburg Port Company sees this as a significant investment to accommodate the growing capacity of container ships. The project aims to enhance flexibility in the existing traffic and prepare for even larger vessels. (ICE STOCCOLMA)

Fonte notizia: Mundus News Sweden, 22 January - Dagens Nyheter