Today, April 1, the concession agreement for Victoria Port comes into effect, a historic change in the Port of Luleå. This means that all responsibility for customers, personnel, operation and maintenance for Victoria Port is concentrated at ShoreLink. Luleå Port is responsible for fairways, overall infrastructure and the oil port.
The biggest difference for customers in Victoria Harbour is that they now have contact with ShoreLink, in everything related to production, contracts, deliveries and planning. Clearer responsibilities and commitments will make collaboration and work easier and more efficient. Customers will receive price reductions from the start as the terms of the concession agreement provided for reduced prices.
- It is of course our common goal that customers should receive the best possible service and with that as our goal we develop our plans, says Susanne Jangdal, CEO of ShoreLink. We have been operating in Luleå Port for almost 70 years and have very good knowledge of the operations. Now that we have a commitment and responsibility for the overall operations, we will work to further develop them. In the development work, it goes without saying that we will continue the good cooperation we have with Luleå Port.
In connection with the start of the concession, operation and maintenance responsibility for the entire area in Viktoriahamnen, including cranes, buildings, the port area and its surfaces, will be taken over by ShoreLink. In addition, 15 employees from Luleå Hamn will transfer to ShoreLink, while the organization will be strengthened with more employees and a maintenance manager.
- In an operation like this, maintenance is important for operations to function without disruptions and for safety in the workplace. We are therefore pleased that maintenance personnel are also transferring to ShoreLink from Luleå Port, and that we are also strengthening with additional expertise, says Christer Garberg, site manager for ShoreLink in Luleå.
Many practical parts will fall into place and preparations have been underway for over a year. To ensure the transition runs as smoothly as possible, both companies have conducted joint training and information sessions. Currently, a renovation of staff spaces and offices is underway, an investment that ShoreLink is making to create shared workspaces.
- The staff has worked side by side for a long time and knows each other well. ShoreLink will receive a very good reinforcement of skills when the Port of Luleå crane operator transfers. This will facilitate workforce planning and also the work of developing working methods and operations. It will simply be easier to communicate and carry out daily work, says Christer.
In addition to the practical aspects of the operation, major strategic work is underway for the Port of Luleå with Malmporten.
- We at Luleå Port are focused on improving the infrastructure for maritime transport via Luleå Port, says Henrik Vuorinen, CEO of Luleå Port. Of course, Malmporten is a large part of our work, but we are also working to attract new customers, types of goods and transport and to demonstrate the advantages of maritime transport. These are parts of the strategic future work that we are doing together with ShoreLink. The compass is set on forward and development.