The Malmporten project has started in Sweden, which will transform the port of Luleå in the north of the country into a deepwater port. Initial dredging work has already begun, with plans to deepen the port area to 15 meters.
The port of Luleå, which handles iron ore and coal for the local steelworks, needs the capacity to handle large-capacity ships to keep transport costs low. Deepening the port will allow ships with a capacity of up to 160,000 tons, while the port can currently only handle ships with a capacity of up to 50,000 tons. The Malmporten project takes seasonal weather conditions into account, as deepening work can only take place seven months of the year due to the waters being frozen the rest of the time.
To ensure efficient handling of ships after deepening, the new hybrid tug Robert Allan Vilja, which is capable of working in ice up to one meter thick, will be used. Completion of the entire project, including construction of access roads and new port infrastructure, is scheduled for 2029.