The Norwegian Coastal Administration is on schedule to begin the construction of what will be the world’s first full-scale ship tunnel by 2018.
The feasibility study is in its final stages. The aim of the project is to allow ships to navigate more safely through Stadhavet Sea, which is the most exposed and treacherous strip along the coast of Norway.
Powerful winds, currents and waves along this stretch of the coastline makes it particularly difficult to navigate. According to the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the Kråkenes lighthouse, just south of Stad, is the meteorological weather station with the most stormy days, which can be anything from 45 to 106 days per year.
The combination of sea currents and subsea topography creates particularly complex and unpredictable navigational conditions. Very high waves come from different directions at the same time and can create critical situations. The conditions also cause heavy waves to continue for a number of days once the wind has died down. This causes difficult sailing conditions even on less windy days.
Large infrastructure investments
The aim of the project is to improve accessibility and safety for shipping past Stad. The tunnel, to be called Stad Ship Tunnel, will span 1.7 kilometres in length, 37 metres in height and 26.5 metres in width, allowing ships the size of coastal steamers to navigate through, according to World Maritime News.
The project forms part of Norwegian national transportation plan that contains plans on large infrastructure investments which will take place for the next 12 years (2018 – 2030) and is fully funded according to Norwegian Coastal Administration. When the feasibility study is completed in 2017, it will undergo external quality assurance, phase 2.
Once the project is cleared, it will take up to four years before it can be completed. Studies in 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 have analysed a number of alternative cross sections and routes for the tunnel. The final route has been selected because the Stad Peninsula is at its narrowest point here, and at the same time the waters are sufficiently shielded to allow shipping to use the tunnel in the majority of weathers.
