The final contracts for the remaining dredging work on the ‘Malmporten’ project have been signed. Over 40 km of the navigation channel is due to be dredged from summer 2027.
‘Malmporten’ is the largest dredging project ever undertaken in Sweden. It is taking place at the Port of Luleå in northern Sweden, near the Finnish border. The agreement between the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket), the Port of Luleå and the contractor marks the final milestone before construction begins in 2027. The contract is worth around SEK 5.7 billion (approx. €515 million); the dredging work is scheduled to be completed in August 2030.
“We are delighted to have finalised this agreement,” said Erik Eklund, Director-General of Sjöfartsverket. “The ‘Malmporten’ project is an investment that will strengthen Sweden’s long-term competitiveness and promote economic growth across the country.”
The construction project is intended to enable more efficient maritime transport to and from the port of Luleå, thereby supporting industrial transformation in northern Sweden. “The rising production of iron ore, fossil-free steel and other key raw materials is increasing the need for larger and more efficient transport capacities,” the agency stated.
13 ‘Avicii Arenas’ to be removed
Between 2027 and 2030, around 40 km of shipping channel and the harbour basin are to be dredged. A total of around 13 millionm³ of material will be removed. The authority compared the scale of the project to 13 “Avicii Arenas”. The multi-purpose hall in Stockholm, with a volume of around 605,000 m³, is one of the largest spherical buildings in the world.
The project, jointly led by the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Port of Luleå, was launched in 2013 in response to the industry’s long-term transport requirements. The contract for the remaining dredging work represents the final step before the actual implementation, which is due to begin next year.
The dredging work will be carried out by ‘Malmporten Dredging Contractors’ (MDC) – the same consortium that completed the preparatory dredging work for the project back in 2024. MDC is a joint venture between Boskalis and Van Oord.
“With this contract, Sweden’s largest dredging project can now enter the implementation phase,” Eklund continued. “This is an important milestone that reflects the long-standing close cooperation between the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Port of Luleå. Together with the introduction of our new, larger icebreaker, the project will significantly increase capacity and strengthen northern Sweden’s competitiveness by the winter of 2030/31.”
According to Anders Dahl, Managing Director of the Port of Luleå, the ability to handle larger vessels will improve both transport efficiency and the environmental footprint. “This is a crucial step in preparing the Port of Luleå for future demand,” said Dahl. “Increased capacity is essential for the mining industry, the steel sector and new industrial investment in northern Sweden. It also provides our customers with the long-term planning certainty they need for investment and growth.”
