The world’s first mega ship tunnel planned: Even for cruise giants

Norway is daring to undertake a mega-project that is unique in the world: in the future, ships will be able to sail through a mountain. With the so-called “Stad Ship Tunnel”, the country wants to build the first tunnel in the world that is specifically designed for seaworthy ships and thus bypasses one of the most dangerous stretches of coast in the country.

The Construction project has been causing a stir for many years. Parliament had already given the green light in 2017. But then the end threatened: the costs exploded. Instead of the originally calculated 5 billion Norwegian crowns (455 million euros), new estimates were at times more than 9 billion crowns, reports Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

This is how much the ship tunnel costs

The government of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre therefore opposed the project. But now the project is back on track. After negotiations between the government and parliament, a new one was created Cost framework set. The construction costs are now expected to be 8.6 billion Norwegian crowns – the equivalent of around 782 million euros.

Meanwhile, the state coastal administration Kystverket is preparing the next step. “We are ready to initiate the necessary processes in early 2027 to enable construction to begin,” explained General Director Einar Vik Arset. The decision on the construction company is also imminent. Three consortia are still in the running. The tunnel should be completed after five years.

The dimensions of the mega project

The planned tunnel is expected to be around 1.8 kilometers long and around 37 meters wide. Even larger ships should be able to use the protected route. According to the plans there would also be Cruise ships with a length of up to 140 meters and a weight of around 16,000 tons, suitable for passage. Around 3 million cubic meters of rock have to be blasted, which is equivalent to around 750,000 truckloads.

Why the waterway is being built

The reason for the spectacular project exists Norway West Coast. Cape Stad on the Stadlandet peninsula is considered one of the most dangerous coastal areas in the country. Violent storms and high waves always make the route a challenge for captains. This is exactly where the tunnel is supposed to help. Instead of going around the notorious headland on the open sea, ships could in future take a protected route through the mountain.

While the Panama Canal or Suez Canal shorten trade routes, the “Stad Ship Tunnel” is intended to increase safety and make shipping more independent of the weather. It would be a unique chapter of engineering in the world: although there are waterways for smaller river vessels, a tunnel of this size is for seaworthy ones Ships was not realized anywhere.