en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dimension Network News, the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Port of Luleå officially signed a contract on June 30, 2026, to launch Sweden's largest-ever dredging project—the Malmporten Project. The total contract value is approximately SEK 5.7 billion (about USD 607 million), with a total dredging volume of approximately 14 million cubic meters, aiming to increase the maximum allowable draft of vessels at the Port of Luleå to 14.7 meters. Dredging operations are scheduled to commence in the spring of 2027, continuing during the ice-free periods from 2027 to 2029, with all work expected to be completed no later than August 15, 2030.
The Swedish Maritime Administration is a national maritime authority under the Swedish government, responsible for maritime traffic infrastructure, waterway maintenance, and shipping safety management in Sweden. Located at the top of the Gulf of Bothnia in northern Sweden, the Port of Luleå is Sweden's largest iron ore export port and an EU-designated strategic priority port. The port serves as a crucial logistics hub for the steel industry, mining, and emerging industrial investments in northern Sweden. The Malmporten Project is a key initiative under Sweden's National Transport Infrastructure Plan 2018-2029, approved by the Swedish government and co-financed by the EU's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Previously, the project canceled its initial tender process in September 2025, after which the project team optimized the waterway design and project scope, re-tendering in 2026. This tender was awarded to the "Malmporten Dredging Contractors" consortium. The consortium is jointly formed by Dutch dredging companies Van Oord and Boskalis, both global leaders in the dredging and marine engineering sectors. The project is being advanced in collaboration with Port of Luleå Ltd., Luleå Municipality, the Swedish Maritime Administration, and the Swedish Transport Administration.
Thomas Nord, Head of Department at the Swedish Maritime Administration, stated that the selection of the contractor and the optimized waterway design have laid a solid foundation for project implementation, effectively enhancing the capacity needed by the industry and region to support sustainable development and green transition. Anders Dahl, CEO of the Port of Luleå, noted that the increased port capacity is crucial for the steel industry, mining, and emerging industrial investments in northern Sweden, providing long-term stability and confidence for customers. Upon completion, the project will improve freight logistics efficiency in northern Sweden, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions per unit of cargo.
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