Ports of Stockholm and Mälarhamnar have joined forces to facilitate sustainable transport and inland shipping between Stockholm Norvik Port and the Mälarhamnar ports in Västerås and Köping.
The collaboration expands the services offered at the ports and will provide good preconditions for barge traffic, similar to that seen on European rivers, said the Ports of Stockholm.
“Stockholm Norvik Port provides an opportunity to create inland shipping using barges that would make transport in the Stockholm region more efficient. This provides additional possibilities for our customers and reduces congestion and the environmental impact of the overland infrastructure,” stated Johan Wallén, marketing and sales manager at Ports of Stockholm.
Nine goods in ten arrive in Sweden by sea. The majority of these are destined for the greater Stockholm region. If these goods could be transported directly to the Stockholm Norvik Port and then onward into Lake Mälaren and the Mälarhamnar ports, the burden on the already congested road and rail networks in the greater Stockholm region could be alleviated. Inland shipping contributes to a more sustainable overland infrastructure, according to Ports of Stockholm.
“For shipping companies, forwarding companies and cargo owners to be able to operate and use barge traffic, the ports must work together in a chain so that there are fairways that function for this purpose. It is therefore important that we, the ports, play our part and together take the necessary steps to enable this traffic to become a reality in Sweden,” said Carola Alzén, CEO of Mälarhamnar AB.
