The Port of Gothenburg will open a new container terminal dedicated to short sea, intra-European cargo transport, which will be operated by APM Terminals.
In a statement, the Port said new logistics patterns have evolved with goods owners moving parts of the global production system closer to Europe.
Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority’s Chief Executive, said, “Short sea is a growing segment, and we are pleased APM Terminals is continuing to meet the needs of the market and at the same time broadening the Port’s overall service offering.
“Increasing domestic shipping is high on the government’s agenda and we are looking to support this. It is a classic example of the benefits of systems thinking, and it is a further addition to the range of services that we offer, giving us even more reason to call ourselves the ‘the no-limit port’,” Dzanic concluded.
With short-sea handling focused on European destinations, for example suitable storage and transloading facilities close to the quayside are needed, to offer greater flexibility and a further incentive for transport purchasers to switch more intra-European freight from road to the more environmentally friendly sea alternative.
Dennis Olesen, Managing Director at APM Terminals Nordic, said, “We are proud to be able to expand our already extensive portfolio with a sustainable and competitive short-sea solution. We see that container traffic in Europe is growing in importance and it is a natural progression that we provide our customers with a service that offers even greater flexibility.
“As a global player with strong links to the Nordic region and Europe, we already have good experience from short-sea solutions that we have rolled out previously. At present, we are working on all fronts to identify and tailor our solutions to match the needs of the Swedish market.”
The terminal will be located at the Skandiahamnen western quay, which was recently renovated and reinforced in the lead-up to the Skandia Gateway fairway project.
The area is currently being reviewed to determine what needs to be adapted, adjusted, or added to ensure the most efficient short-sea handling system possible.
The Port claimed it will also be possible to handle coastal and inland shipping at the new terminal. Loading and unloading of barges and smaller vessels that form the backbone of these modes of shipping have specific requirements that are currently being examined to ensure the best possible solutions can be put in place.
