Construction of new terminal at Gothenburg port begins

Construction work has begun on an entirely new terminal in the outer area of the Port of Gothenburg in Sweden.

The project will be the largest expansion undertaking at the Port of Gothenburg in 40 years.

The terminal, which will cover an area of 220,000 square metres, will be built using 350,000 cubic metres of dredge spoils from the river, the Göta Älv. The spoils derive from routine dredging carried out to maintain the water depth.

Both the dredge spoils and the river are contaminated with various substances, including tributyltin (TBT). Up until 2008, TBT was an antibiocide component in antifouling paints used for the hulls of ships and boats before research showed that it was toxic to the marine environment.

The spoils are placed in an embanked area in the Arendal Bay and cement and slag are used as binding agents.

An embanked area will be created at Arendal Bay, which will then be filled with materials. Before this can be done, the bed within the blasted rock embankment needs to be stabilised with the aid of piles.

Stage I involves piling from the seabed down to the rock, under the envisaged embanked area. The embankment will be built using blasted rock and sand.

The terminal will be completed in 2025, although it is anticipated that certain sections can be brought into operation before then.