First salute in Brevik’s waterway
30th January 2008
Wednesday, 30th January 14.00 hrs the first salute heralded the fairway project for Brevikstrømmen waterway. The media were specially invited to mark the start of the project.
In order to ease access and improve traffic safety, it is necessary to widen the fairway into Brevikstrømmen, which is narrowest at the fairway into Frierfjord. Wednesday, 30th January the first explosive charge was set for the start of the improvements.
During the year there are more than 8.000 vessels passing Brevikstrømmen waterway. 5.000 of these ships are commercial passages. Around 800 passages are vessels carrying dangerous or polluting cargoes. Over 90 percent of exports from industries in the Frierfjord basin are carried by sea.
The aim of the improvement project is to straighten out the fairway, which today has a difficult S-bend, plus to increase the depth to 15 metres. This means that it needs to be deepened in eight areas. It is planned to blast away between 40.000 and 50.000 cubic metres of rock in all. The rubble arising from the blasting will be dumped at a new industrial area at Skjerkøya.
Completion of the project is estimated to be in December 2008/early 2009.
Grenland harbour to have environmental certification
21st September 2007
Grenland Harbour IKS has resolved to be environmentally certified in accordance with ISO 14001.
In this connection, an agreement has been made with Det Norske Veritas to carry out the certification.
Environmental certification means that documentation can be provided showing that work is being undertaken in a in a positive and structured way in respect of the outer environment, and in accordance with the standard described by ISO 14001.
Grenland harbour looks to the future
28th August 2007
The present harbour structure in Grenland has long term limitations with regard to available acreage, infrastructure and the acceptance of the local community. Therefore, following discussions with its owner municipality, Grenland Harbour IKS has started work on an evaluation of future alternatives for the running of the harbour.
The harbour structure in Europe is changing. Increased transport volumes and shipowner’s demands for more rational administration means larger ships that will sail to fewer harbours. This development will also determine Norwegian harbour structures. In the future, fewer Norwegian harbours will feed the large European harbours with containers and trailers – so called short sea shipping.
Ambition
Grenland Harbour IKS’ ambition is to be one of the few remaining harbours. This is important from a regional perspective and because harbour activities have a decisive impact on the industry in Grenland.
Grenland Harbour IKS has a vision that the harbour shall be run in an effective and profitable manner. This, in turn, shall contribute to an increased value added effect on commerce, industry and society, and the harbour shall take care of environmental issues.
At the same time, the vision is that Grenland Harbour IKS shall further develop its position as one of Norway’s major gateways into Europe.
Therefore it is the aim of Grenland Harbour to be a part of the future harbour structure.
Acceptance
If this is achieved and the vision becomes a reality, the future harbour structure must be based on long term growth and have a clear acceptance by society for its localisation.
Today’s harbour structure is limited in the long term with regard to available acreage, infrastructure and acceptance by the local community.
Therefore we are now carrying out an evaluation of future alternatives for harbour activities.
