More freight traffic may pass through the Inland Archipelago

Today, the Swedish Inner Archipelago is mainly used by holidaymakers and recreational skippers. This could change now when the Swedish Transport Agency questions whether more freight traffic can follow the waterway, reports Swedish radio.

According to the EU directive, several areas have to be tested for inland navigation, which will make it easier for smaller shipping companies to choose river navigation routes in the future.

In western Sweden, it is mainly the Lysekil-Göteborg route, where vessels will be able to use the busy and narrow passages Malö crosses in the future.

The County Administrative Board is essential

Swedish radio announced that a Swedish-Dutch shipping company was already transporting diesel and Lysekil gasoline to Karlstad, via Gothenburg. Instead of 60 to 70 trucks, a 86 meter barge can carry 2,000 tonnes.

– There are always risks, but they are very safe ships that usually sail to Rehn. According to Johan Lantz, CEO of Avatar Logistics, on Swedish radio, the argument for us to manage river navigation is that we can achieve the climate goal of Sweden.

Studies at sea will now be done to see if the fairways may need dredging. Jan Gustafsson, head of the water department of the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland, can affect sensitive marine areas.

– Eelgrass areas are well known along the west coast. They have great biological benefits by being, for example, a fish nursery. We must protect enormous values, he told Swedish radio.