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Countdown to Bid Submission

Stad ship tunnel
On June 10th, the Norwegian Coastal Administration will have an idea of the cost of the Stad Ship Tunnel. That is when the first bids are due. This marks an important milestone.
Photo:Kystverket/Snøhetta/Plomp

Three strong contractors are competing to build the Stad ship tunnel. The deadline for submitting the first bids is June 10th, and that is when the Norwegian Coastal Administration will get an initial indication of what the world’s first ship tunnel might actually cost.

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By Nedregotten, Sveinung.

– We are fortunate to have three strong and committed bidders involved. They are challenging us on key aspects of the tender documents, which ultimately improves the project. I’m confident that we will end up with a capable contractor and a solid final product, says Harald Inge Johnsen, Project Manager for the Stad Ship Tunnel at the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Final Round of Clarification Meetings

This week, the Norwegian Coastal Administration is holding the fourth and final round of clarification meetings with the bidders in Trondheim. These meetings have provided valuable input to both the tender documents and the bidders’ planning for the execution phase leading up to the June 10th submission deadline at 09:00.

– Our goal is to give the bidders the best possible foundation for preparing solid and realistic proposals. We have had a close and constructive dialogue and received valuable feedback and exchanges on topics such as excavation methods and choice of materials. There have also been suggestions for improvements to requirements and solutions — for instance, regarding the fender systems inside and outside the tunnel, says Johnsen.

What Will It Cost?

One of the biggest questions is the total price tag. So far, the bidders are keeping their estimates confidential.

– We really don’t know anything about the prices yet, but we will get an initial picture on June 10th. After that, we will enter into negotiations concerning both price and the other award criteria, Johnsen explains.

The prices received will be decisive for the project's further progress. If they exceed the approved cost framework, a new budget will need to be approved by the Norwegian Parliament. If they stay within budget, the project will only require a startup allocation in the national budget to begin construction.

– After June 10th, we will enter a real negotiation phase. Due to the competitive process, we can not disclose detailed pricing or other sensitive information, but we are in close dialogue with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries regarding costs and the path ahead, the project manager emphasizes.

Next Steps:

  • Three Bidders:

    • Joint venture: Skanska Norge AS and Vassbakk & Stol AS (Norway)

    • AF Gruppen Norge AS (Norway)

    • Eiffage Génie Civil (France)

  • Bid Deadline: June 10th at 09:00
  • Next Phase: Evaluation and negotiations
  • Planned Contract Signing: Autumn 2025*
  • Expected Construction Start: 2026*
  • Estimated Construction Time: Approximately five years

*Provided the bids stay within the approved cost framework

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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