Norway built the first ship tunnel in the world

The Norwegian government approved the world's first shipbuilding plan for large passenger ships and other vessels that could bypass the fjords.

The tunnel costs $ 314 million over the Stad Peninsula in western Norway, large enough to allow the Hurtigruten passenger train to cross the Bergen - Kirkenes line, Sputnik News reported Tuesday. Photo: Kystverket.

The 488m high Stad Peninsula with the Tarvaldsegga Mountains occupies a large part of the terrain, where winds are extremely dangerous. Since 1945, there have been 46 wrecks and 33 deaths in the waters around the peninsula. Tunneling will help ships avoid winds and move more safely. The tunnel project is 45m high, 36m wide and 1.6km long. It will start construction next year and is expected to come into operation in 2029. (Photo: Kystverket).

Authorities have chosen to build tunnels instead of conventional canals due to the environmental damage the canals cause to the peninsula. The tunnel allows cargo ships and passenger ships of up to 16,000 tons to pass through. Photo: Stadtunnel.

Currently, the Norwegian Coastal Express and ferries to the town of Aheim in the Vanylvsfjord have to cross the Stad Peninsula to Måløy. Once the tunnel is complete, vehicles can cross the Isthmus and exit near Barmøya, saving both time and money. Photo: Kystverket.

The tunnel was designed by the Snøhetta architectural firm, which was built by conventional blasting and drilling. Post-blast rock will be used to build commercial buildings in the surrounding area. Photo: Kystverket.