Dredging spoil projects in the Port of Gothenburg

Port of Gothenburg promotes circularity by reusing infrastructure works waste clay and dredging spoil from marine projects. Collaboration with stakeholders proves to be crucial to reach success, benefiting the city and surrounding community. 

The Port of Gothenburg has transformed a former dumping site near Torsviken bird sanctuary into a wetland for wading birds. In collaborating with various organizations, they restored the area after decades of using it for dredging spoils. Since 2009, efforts have focused on covering the contaminated soil and creating a rich wildlife habitat. Key steps included using glacial clay from the Marieholm Tunnel construction as a protective barrier, building walls and islands, and filling the basin with. The wetland, covering 7 hectares, features varying water levels and is adjacent to the bird sanctuary and features a public footpath. The project aims to support protected species and offer outdoor activities for the community. 

The Lundby Old Basin project, set to begin in 2025, aims to create 100,000 square meters of developable land by using 400,000 m³ of dredging spoils. This project combines the need to handle large volumes of dredge masses from maritime infrastructure projects with the corresponding need for large volumes of masses to fill up an old port basin for future urban development. This methodology also avoids importing Danish sea sand and thereby reduces emissions and cost. This initiative will transform the riverfront into a greener, more vibrant, and accessible space. It supports the City’s goal to reuse 100% of feasible surplus material by 2030. Also, the project will involve innovative ways of collaborating, including finding innovative business and risk-sharing models between the port authority and various departments in the City of Gothenburg. The project is seen as a win-win for all stakeholders both economically and sustainably.