Port of Gothenburg opens America Cruise Terminal
Over 100 years ago, the first Swedish American Line vessel sailed for the USA from Stigbergskajen in Gothenburg. This historic quay is now being resurrected as a cruise reception centre under the name America Cruise Terminal, Port of Gothenburg said in its press release.
“Gothenburg has developed considerably as a maritime city,” said Jill Söderwall, Vice President Cruise at Gothenburg Port Authority.
2017 will be the final season in which cruise ships can dock at Frihamnen. The area will form part of a major urban development scheme with the construction of homes and offices, forcing the present cruise terminal to find a new location.
The new central cruise terminal will be at Stigbergskajen in Masthugget. The quay and part of the terminal building, Amerikaskjulet, are currently being restored and will be ready to welcome vessels from spring 2018. The new name - America Cruise Terminal – evokes memories of the terminal’s illustrious past.
Amerikaskjulet was constructed in 1912 and operated as a passenger terminal until 1975. The building was then converted into offices, even if the quay was used occasionally by naval vessels and school ships. Part of Amerikaskjulet will now be converted into a reception hall with a tourist information office, souvenir shop and other facilities.
The maximum length for vessels calling at America Cruise Terminal will be 225 metres - 25 metres longer than the current maximum length at Frihamnen.
Before the inaugural season in 2018, the whole of the outside of Stigbergskajen will be renovated. Ten metres of the quay will be demolished and rebuilt, the bollards will be reinforced, ramps will be constructed and parking spaces for buses will be created.
Amerikaskjulet at Stigbergskajen was completed in 1912 and it was one of the first buildings in Gothenburg to be constructed entirely of concrete. Swedish American Line began operating in 1915 and it was from there that the company’s large transatlantic liners departed. The arrival and departure of Gripsholm, Drottningholm, Stockholm and Kungsholm were for many years the cause of great public celebration among the people of Gothenburg, who lined the quayside waving banners and flags. One of the more famous passengers was Greta Garbo, who emigrated to the USA in 1925. The Swedish American Line was to go on to become one of the world’s leading cruise lines with a very exclusive clientele. Passenger traffic finally came to an end in 1975.
Gothenburg Port Authority and Göteborg & Co have been working actively since 2008 to market Gothenburg as a cruise destination and their efforts have proved successful. The number of calls has increased significantly with a record high in 2014 of 73 vessels, carrying over 100,000 passengers. There has been a slight downturn since then, due largely to keen competition from other ports, particularly in Denmark.
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region. 30 per cent of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 60 per cent of all container traffic.
The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 25 rail shuttles that depart each day mean that companies throughout Sweden and Norway have a direct, environmentally smart link to the largest port in the Nordic region. The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers.