Fairway deepening: How APM Terminals will minimise customer impact

The Skandia Gateway project, which kicks off on 12 February, aims to deepen the fairway into the Port of Gothenburg and strengthen the southern quay at APM Terminals. Jasmin Mujdzic, Operational Manager at APM Terminals Gothenburg, provides insight into how the project is expected to affect APM Terminals’ customers and what measures are being taken to minimise any disruptions.

With shipping as the backbone of 70% of Sweden’s exports, APM Terminals in Gothenburg plays a central role as the country’s only port of call for direct vessels to other continents. As container vessel capacity continues to grow, the need for deeper fairways and reinforced quays is increasing to future-proof the port and preserve Sweden’s competitiveness. The project will be divided into stages and is expected to be fully completed in the first quarter of 2028.

"It is crucial to deepen the fairway to allow the largest container ships to arrive at the port fully loaded. Deeper and wider passages also make it easier to enter and leave the harbour. By reinforcing the quay, APM Terminals will be able to receive two direct calls at the same time," says Mujdzic.

Customer impact during the construction period

During construction, parts of the container terminal will be cordoned off and there will be fewer handling areas.

"At APM Terminals, we are well prepared and are in the process of adapting to the new conditions. However, we expect our usual flexibility in handling vessels that arrive outside their window at short notice to be limited during the construction period, which our customers are well aware of," he continues.

APM Terminal’s measures to minimise disruptions

"In order to maintain smooth and efficient flows, we will consult with the shipping companies and shorten some vessel time windows, increase crane intensity and adapt staffing. This will allow us to service vessels faster, without affecting volumes. This means that vessels can arrive earlier at the next port or come to call with us later, which is positive for our customers," says Mujdzic.

"The cordons during the construction period will entail new routes for our trucks and machines. We are optimising the routes to waste less time and we are planning new holding spaces in order to utilise the yard area as efficiently as possible. By closely discussing with customers and stakeholders in the project, we will be able to adapt both solutions and service times as needed," he concludes.