Malmporten – Sweden’s largest dredging project set to begin in summer 2027

The Swedish Maritime Administration and Port of Luleå have signed an agreement with a contractor for the remaining dredging works within the Malmporten project.
– With the contract in place, Sweden’s largest dredging project can now enter its next implementation phase, says Erik Eklund, Director General of the Swedish Maritime Administration.

The agreement with the contractor for the remaining dredging works in Project Malmporten was the final and decisive element before implementation begins next year. In total, approximately 40 kilometres of fairway will be dredged between 2027 and 2030. The dredged material corresponds to roughly 23 Avicii Arenas in volume. The contractor is Malmporten Dredging Contractors (MDC), the same company that carried out preparatory dredging in 2024. MDC is a business collaboration between Boskalis and Van Oord.

– The contract is the result of work led by both the Swedish Maritime Administration and Port of Luleå, and represents an important milestone. Combined with our new, larger icebreaker, we will significantly strengthen capacity and enhance the competitiveness of northern Sweden by the winter of 2030–2031,” says Erik Eklund.

According to Anders Dahl, CEO of Port of Luleå, larger vessels capable of carrying more cargo provide advantages such as increased profitability, strengthened competitiveness and positive environmental effects, both regionally and nationally.

– This is welcome news for Luleå, Norrbotten and, above all, Sweden. Malmporten creates societal benefit and contributes to national growth through more efficient maritime transport to and from Port of Luleå,” says Anders Dahl.

The contract is valued at approximately SEK 5.7 billion. The dredging work is scheduled for completion in 2030. Project Malmporten is a collaboration between the Swedish Maritime Administration and Luleå Port, aimed at dredging deeper fairways and constructing a new deep water port, land areas and infrastructure within the harbour. The project responds to industrial demand resulting from societal transformation and increased production of, among other things, ore and steel in Norrbotten.

Further information

Swedish Maritime Administration, Press Service: +46771 40 90 09 (menu option 1), info@sjofartsverket.se Luleå Port, Communications: +4676 134 90 78, kommunikation@portlulea.com

Project Malmporten

Project Malmporten is Sweden’s largest dredging project It will enable Port of Luleå to receive vessels with a draught of up to 14.7 metres. This will streamline transport from northern Sweden and reduce fuel consumption and emissions per tonne of cargo transported. Luleå is designated as a strategically prioritised port by the EU. The project is co financed through the Trans European Transport Network (TEN T). The project is a collaboration between Port of Luleå, Luleå Municipality, the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Transport Administration. Port of Luleå and the Swedish Maritime Administration are responsible for implementation. The project has been approved by the Swedish Government and is included in the national transport infrastructure plan for 2018–2029.