Tromsø is the Arctic capital. With its 76,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city in Northern Norway. Close to the town lies Tromsø harbor, one of the country’s largest fishing ports, a vital cruise port, and a logistics hub in the north.
In a series of articles, we will focus on the Norwegian maritime industry. What role it plays, what it can offer, and how to make logistics more sustainable by moving more goods from road to the sea. We start our journey in Tromsø and talk to the Port Director at Tromsø Harbor, Jørn-Even Hansen.
“We are building for the Arctic future”
The Port Authority of Tromsø Harbor recently adopted a new strategic plan for 2020-2032.
Building The Arctic future happens through the following focus areas:
- Facilitate maritime business development
- Be a driving force for the green maritime shift in the north
- Be engaged, change-minded, and productive.
Tromsø havn strategiske styringsdokument 2020-2032
More goods from road to the sea
Future growth potential for the Port of Tromsø lies in Northern Norway’s natural resources. Sea transport is essential to keep the wheels running along the Norwegian coast, both for the Norwegian industry and Norwegian workplaces.
The port of Tromsø is responsible for the development of the maritime business activities in the municipality of Tromsø. Responsibility is carried out through the provision of infrastructure for business in the north and through being a driver for growth, start-ups, and innovation, especially in the fisheries, energy, tourism/cruise, and logistics industries.
Destination Map
| Averøy | Harstad | Risøyhamn | Szczecin |
| Bergen | Havøysund | Rotterdam | Taganrog |
| Berlevåg | Honningsvåg | Rypefjord | Tananger |
| Bodø | Kirkenes | Rørvik | Torvik |
| Brønnøysund | Kjøllefjord | Sandnes | Trondheim |
| Båtsfjord | Klaipeda | Sandenssjøen | Vadsø |
| Finnsnes | Kristiansund N | Skjervøy | Vardø |
| Florø | Mehamn | Sortland | Velsen |
| Gdansk | Molde | Stamsund | Øksfjord |
| Glomfjord | Murmansk | Stokmarknes | Ørnes |
| Grimsby | Måløy | Svelgen | Ålesund |
| Hammerfest | Nesna | Svolvær |
Positive traffic development
Freight volumes across the ports in 2018 are 1 285 700. The development represents an increase of 5.5 percent compared to 2017. The number of goods loaded and unloaded domestically has increased in 2018 compared with 2017. The freight types mainly consist of fishery and aquaculture products, bulk products, general cargo, and containers.
What does it take to move more goods from the road to the sea?
Jørn-Even Hanssen, Port Director of Tromsø Harbor
We challenged the Port Director in Tromsø, Jørn-Even Hanssen, to share his views on what he thinks is needed to move more goods by sea. He was interested in 3 things:
- State measures that follow the political objectives of freight transfer
- The ports must take an active and conscious role
- Shipping companies and carriers must facilitate, and the owners of the goods must make conscious environmental choices
The shift from road to the sea is a shared responsibility, but the shipping companies must have the right product and tonnage. The shipping companies must work with merchants, carriers, ports, and the authorities to reach the needs of the market.