New Swedish green shipping corridor

The partnership will act as an innovative platform to develop scalable solutions for phasing out fossil fuels and enable green shipping. It will also leverage the advances and solutions in the Decatrip project, a collaboration between Rauma Marine Constructions, Viking Line, Åbo Akademi University and Kempower.

“Climate change is happening here and now. It is more important than ever to take tangible steps towards a green transition,” said Clara Lindblom, city councillor responsible for Ports of Stockholm.

“We know that more transport by rail or sea is needed rather than by road and air. Green shipping plays a major role in climate transition measures in the transport sector.”

The project and partnership qualifies as a green shipping corridor according to the Clydebank Declaration, of which both Sweden and Finland are signatories. This undertaking is well in advance of the EU’s Fit for 55 strategy time line.

During the project the partners will successively reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and work towards creating an entirely fossil fuel-free corridor.

The collaboration may also expand to involve other key stakeholders in the shipping industry, as well as other relevant ports, cargo owners and forwarding companies.

“Environmental work has always been a focus of our business operations,” said Erik Söderholm, chief executive of the Port of Turku.

“The Port of Turku nestles within a very vulnerable archipelago. This gives us the responsibility of respecting our surroundings at all times in our daily activities.”

In 2023, the port signed Turku’s Climate City Contract, which aims to make the city carbon neutral by 2029. So the goal to develop a green transport corridor between Turku and Stockholm is the next natural step in the process.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the parties on 6 February.