Västtrafik's procurement of the ferry service is now complete. The contract, which extends between 2027 and 2042, has been awarded to the Norwegian shipping company Torghatten. The procurement has been ongoing since spring 2023 and was carried out in competition.

- In the procurement, we had two bidders, Torghatten and Styrsöbolaget. Both met the high quality requirements we set, but Torghatten submitted the most economically advantageous tender and therefore took home the assignment. It is a shipping company with long experience in shipping and we are convinced that they will manage the traffic in a very good way, just as Styrsöbolaget has done all these years, says Anna Johansson, business area manager at Västtrafik.

Electric ships

Overall, the traffic must run with at least 90 percent electric power.

There will also be several improvements for travellers when Torghatten starts running in December 2027. Out of a total of eight ships, there will be three fast ferries, which are also larger than the ships that run today. There will also be better travel options for work and school commuters and simpler timetables.

- Our goal is to create good and climate-smart public transport with good travel opportunities, both for those traveling within the archipelago and for those traveling to the mainland. We look forward to developing traffic in the Southern archipelago, says Anna Johansson.

Establishment in Gothenburg

The four ferry routes will have year-round operation with extended operation in the summer months, when traffic is at its highest. The routes are crucial for the citizens' daily journeys, and each year approximately 2.2 million trips are made on these routes. Saltholmen functions as an important hub with further connections to other public transport services such as bus and train.

In connection with the contract, Torghatten's Swedish subsidiary Torghatten AB will be considerably expanded, and an administrative office will be established in Gothenburg. During high season in the summer months, there will be a need for around 70 seafarers to operate the routes.