Iceland and Germany plan new port

They are collaborating with Germany’s Bremenports at the initial stages of the development to get expertise in port economics and operations. The new port is planned for Finna Fjord in an area that is currently populated by small coastal communities.

Iceland plans to build the new port at a location which is free of ice all year round thanks to the Gulf Stream. The preparations are already underway and during the second half of 2012, the Icelandic company EFLA Consulting Engineers and Bremenports drew up a Letter of Intent, which was signed by both partners and two local authorities close to the location of the planned port.

The previous connections between Iceland and Bremenports have been largely based on Iceland’s fishing industry. However, Iceland’s President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and other representatives of the country wish to expand these connections. The island in the Arctic Ocean now wishes to play a more important role in the logistics sector and is consequently conducting in-depth investigations about the construction of a new port. The planning experts and engineers at the port management company Bremenports, who market their maritime engineering expertise throughout the world, have been asked to participate in the Finna Fjord project.

There are various reasons why Iceland is interested in constructing the new port in the north east. One of the main ones is the forecast increase in shipping in the Arctic Ocean with climate change potentially opening up both the North-West Passage and the North-East Passage. Both routes could shorten the passage time to the Pacific Basin, with the proposed port located along both routes. Another potential source of business could come from the exploitation of oil and natural gas deposits to the north and west of Iceland and the potential of exploiting mineral resources in Greenland. Finally there is the prospect of developing cruise shipping business in Arctic waters.

“The people of Iceland want to systematically exploit these opportunities”, explains Robert Howe, technical director at Bremenports. After a visit to Iceland to discuss the Finna Fjord project with President Grímsson, Howe is convinced that this is a good opportunity to expand Bremenports’ consulting business. This will involve all aspects of planning the new seaport, inclusive of environmental impact analyses and the consequent measures.

The first stage will be to assess which examinations are needed to identify the feasibility and future viability of the new port. The second phase will involve analysis of the location, its geological features, environmental aspects as well as diverse legal and political questions. This will be followed by a market analysis and cost estimate.

Initial proposals for the new ports suggest a pier extending out from the coast on both sides of the fjord to create two separate protected port areas.

“Our company has extensive experience of planning sophisticated port construction projects, says Howe. “The request for our cooperation at an early planning phase confirms our international reputation.”

On completion of the preliminary examinations, a contract will be signed for the entire development planning. The port planners from Bremerhaven are to be granted the right to act as sole coordinators until the conclusion of the Finna Fjord project.

Iceland Map reproduced courtesy of http://island.karten21.com/

By Dag Pike