On Wednesday the Northern Harbour in Malmö, the biggest port investment in Sweden in recent decades, was officially declared open.

This marks the conclusion of the first phase in the creation of an efficient, sustainable transport hub covering 1.5 million square metres. During the ceremony, emphasis was placed on Malmö’s potential as a leading transport and logistical hub.

The opening ceremony in the Northern Harbour was preceded by a boat trip around the harbour area for specially invited guests. Those involved included Ilmar Reepalu, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board in Malmö, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen and Johan Röstin, CEO of Copenhagen Malmö Ports (CMP).

Since 2001, the ports of Malmö and Copenhagen have been run by CMP, Copenhagen Malmö Port AB. CMP is owned jointly by the development company By & Havn, the City of Malmö and around twenty private investors.

In his address during the ceremony, Ilmar Reepalu emphasised what a significant investment for the future the new harbour area represents:

“With the construction of the Northern Harbour, Malmö’s role as a vital hub for commerce and transport in the Baltic region is now being reinforced.”

Ilmar Reepalu also highlighted the move to the Northern Harbour as a major environmental initiative:

“The concentration on the Northern Harbour creates sustainable development of the port and industry, while at the same time space is freed up in the centre of Malmö and in Limhamn for homes, offices and recreation. This in turn means that heavy goods traffic will move away from the city centre, which is of course an important part of our environmental work in the city. At least as important is the fact that crossing times for ferries and ships are now fifteen minutes shorter and it takes trucks ten minutes less to reach the motorway system. This brings, of course, positive effects in terms of both cost and the environment.”

The City of Malmö has invested one million Swedish kronor in the new port facilities and terminals.

“Bearing in mind the increase in international freight traffic, new transport flows and Malmö’s strategic location in the Baltic region, the investment in the Northern Harbour is incredibly significant,” says Johan Röstin, CEO of CMP.

At present only a small part of the 1.5 million square metres of available space has been developed. The City of Malmö and CMP will be using half of the area to create a new logistics centre where, for example, transport and logistics companies can set up operations.

“Customers that become established in the logistics centre will be offered efficient, modern and sustainable solutions in which freight can be easily transferred between train, ship and truck,” said Röstin.