European Investment Bank (EIB) signed 445 million Swedish Krona ($45.7 million) loan with Ystad to expand harbour facilities to accommodate LNG vessels on the Swinoujscie-Ystad line can access the harbour.
The port in the southern-Swedish town is a connection point to the Polish Port of Swinoujscie and the Danish island of Bornholm.
The financing will be used to expand the quays to accommodate new, more environmentally friendly, LNG vessels of over 240 meters in length, which will start operating next year, EIB said in its statement.
The project aims at increasing the capacity and upgrading the Port of Ystad facilities in order to accommodate larger ro-pax vessels.
Works include the construction of two new, deeper, ferry berths at a new pier located in the outer port basin, with associated facilities in reclaimed areas located to the east of the new berths. It also consists of dredging works in the existing outer basin of the port, the construction of a new breakwater south of the existing eastern breakwater, with a new reclaimed platform for future port activities expansion and the extension of the breakwater at the western part of the port.
The project is expected to improve the climate performance of the port. Measures undertaken in this sense include the improvement of on-shore power supply for berthed vessels, and a reduction of emissions by manoeuvring vessels due to easier berthing, the statement reads.