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Tender conference: Significant interest in the ship tunnel

Tender conference presentation
Project manager Harald Inge Johnsen at the tender conference at Gardermoen

One week before Christmas, the Norwegian Coastal Administration gathered nearly 130 participants from over 60 contractors and suppliers for a tender conference for the Stad ship tunnel. – This demonstrates great interest in contributing to the construction of the world's first ship tunnel, says Project Manager Harald Inge Johnsen.

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By Nedregotten, Sveinung.

The conference, held at Gardermoen on December 17, brought together major Norwegian and Nordic tunnel builders, including Skanska, AF Gruppen, Hæhre, LNS, Veidekke, and Implenia Norway. Also present were contractors from Spain, France, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, as well as three contractors from China. The Chinese companies rank among the largest contractors in the world.

– We are very pleased with the turnout. It is clear that the ship tunnel project sparks engagement. This is a landmark project unlike anything else globally, and it seems many contractors want to be a part of it, says Harald Inge Johnsen, Project Manager for the Stad ship tunnel at the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

He is particularly pleased that Norwegian tunnel contractors are showing interest in the project.

Engaging main contractors is key

– In this phase, it is essential for us to engage with large contractors who can take on primary responsibility for the project, either independently or in collaboration with others. At the same time, the conference serves as a valuable platform for subcontractors to pitch their products and services to the major firms, Johnsen explains.

The conference also included subcontractors specializing in concrete production, fender solutions, construction, civil engineering, and electrical systems—all of which will play crucial roles in the overall project.

Facts and requirements

At the conference, the Norwegian Coastal Administration provided a general overview of the project before going into competition terms, qualification requirements, and technical specifications detailing what the main contractor will actually build.

The tender conference was held following the tender announcement of the design-build contract for the construction of the Stad ship tunnel. Johnsen now hopes many contractors will move forward and submit their applications to participate in the competition by the deadline which is on January 31.

Prequalification

– This is the next critical milestone for the project. January 31 is a firm deadline that the contractors must meet, says Johnsen.

He has a clear message for contractor groups working on their prequalification applications ahead of the deadline at the end of January:

– It is crucial not to stumble during the prequalification. Those who fail to submit complete and timely applications will not be qualified, Johnsen emphasizes.

Communication via KGV

Several questions and comments emerged during the tender conference. These will be compiled and addressed in a summary to be posted in the Norwegian Coastal Administration's procurement tool, Mercell.

– All interested suppliers must register in this tool, as all further communication regarding the tender, including questions, answers, and any potential changes, will take place there, says Project Manager Johnsen.

About the Stad ship tunnel

The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) has been tasked with building the Stad Ship Tunnel, the world's first full-scale ship tunnel. The construction project will be carried out by a main contractor through a turnkey contract. It is scheduled to be announced in 2024, with construction potentially commencing in 2025.

The objective of the Stad Ship Tunnel project is to improve the navigability and safety of maritime transport around Stad, likely the most weather-exposed and dangerous stretch of sea along the Norwegian coast. Additionally, the project is to be optimized to extract other benefits.

The ship tunnel will be constructed at the narrowest point of the Stad Peninsula, between the Moldefjord and Kjødepollen, in the Vanylvsfjord. The tunnel will be 1.7 kilometers long (2.2 km including entrance areas), 50 meters high, and with a width of 36 meters. This means that vessels up to the size of the Coastal Route/Hurtigruten will be able to safely navigate past Stadlandet.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration is a transport agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries. Our vision is to develop the coast and ocean areas into the world's safest and cleanest. The Stad Ship Tunnel is a part of this effort.

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