The port authority intends to invest SEK15m (€1.48m) into redeveloping the quay in Frihamnen over which container traffic went in the past before operations moved to the brand-new Norvik.

If all goes according to the plan, the new facility will be ready by the 2023 cruise season.

According to the Ports of Stockholm, the new berthing place will double the port's capacity for turnaround calls.

In a corona-free year, the cruise industry adds some SEK2.0b (€200m) to the local economy, i.a., generating 1,100 jobs.

In 2019, more than 656k cruise ship guests visited the Swedish capital, making Stockholm the 4th most popular destination in the Baltic.

Meanwhile, on 25 May, the Mein Schiff 1 cruise vessel of TUI Cruises inaugurated the corona-adapted cruise season in Stockholm, with 1,125 passengers on board. It was a blue cruise, so nobody disembarked.

"The cruise company follows the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization and the Cruise Lines International Association. The company has also implemented its own additional guidelines for how its cruises are carried out. The passengers must complete a health declaration form and provide proof of a negative COVID19 test before they can begin their voyage. The company has also limited the number of passengers aboard to enable social distancing and compliance with other measures," the Ports of Stockholm said in a press release.

Photo: Ports of Stockholm