Norway: Major ship tunnel through Stadlandet to go ahead – construction to begin in 2027

It is set to become one of Europe’s most spectacular structures: the Norwegian Maritime Authority, Kystverket, has signed the contract for the ship tunnel through the Stadlandet peninsula, which has been under discussion for years. The cost of this mammoth project is estimated at around 8.6 billion Norwegian kroner – roughly 800 million euros.

33 metres clearance height

The tunnel is intended to run from Kjødepollen in Vanylvsfjord to Moldefjord near Selje, thereby rendering the outer passage around Vestkapp between Bergen and Ålesund unnecessary. The sea area around the Stadlandet peninsula is notorious for its often difficult weather conditions, sea states and currents. The tunnel will be 1,700 metres long, 50 metres high and 36 metres wide. The designated clearance height is 33 metres.

This means that, in the commercial shipping sector, even the combined mail and cruise ships operated by Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages – which have to pass through the notoriously challenging stretch of coastline on a daily basis throughout the year according to their timetables – can make use of the new shortcut through the ship tunnel.

This also offers a safe and time-saving alternative for recreational boating in general – including even large sailing and motor yachts – when travelling along the Norwegian coast, combined with a unique cruising experience.

Construction is expected to take five years

Before the main construction work on the ship tunnel begins, Kystverket and the contractor AF Gruppen intend to clarify the details of the planning and procedures during a joint preparatory phase. The main construction phase is scheduled to start in early 2027 and is expected to last around five years.

The contract does not cover tunnelling alone. The access and guidance systems at the tunnel portals, the safety measures and technical installations within the tunnel, as well as the deepening of the route through the Saltasundet strait near Selje, are all part of the overall project. According to Project details from Kystverket be cut off and removed.

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