Nearly 450 Norwegian businesses advocate for the development of the Stad-Ship Tunnel
The Stad Ship Tunnel, a proposed marine tunnel in Norway, has garnered significant support from various sectors of the maritime industry. Over 450 Norwegian companies, including small businesses, large corporations, county authorities, municipalities, and national and regional interest groups, have publicly expressed their support for the realization of the tunnel since September 2025.
Notable signatories include the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, the Coastal Business Association, the Norwegian Fast Boat Association, NHO Vestland, and NHO Møre og Romsdal. These entities have collectively petitioned the Norwegian Parliament, emphasizing the benefits the tunnel would bring.
The petition highlights that the tunnel would ensure safe, predictable year-round navigation on a highly exposed coastal section. It also asserts that the realization of the Stad Ship Tunnel would strengthen the value creation and competitiveness of Norwegian companies, providing socioeconomic benefits comparable to major railway or road projects in Eastern Norway.
The petition contains two clear demands: the Norwegian Coastal Administration must conclude negotiations with the contractors to have the final price on the table, and the Stad Ship Tunnel must now be realized. This demand comes in response to the fact that all three bids for the construction of the ship tunnel exceeded the upper limit approved by the Norwegian Parliament.
Critics of the project claim that boats traveling along the coast would not use the tunnel. However, this claim is refuted by the collective support of the industry itself. The industry's backing indicates that they intend to use the tunnel if it is built.
The socio-economic benefit of the Stad Ship Tunnel is likened to that of major railway or road projects in Eastern Norway. The petition, which has been downloaded, underscores the importance of the project and calls for its realization despite cost proposals exceeding the parliament’s 5 billion NOK limit set in 2021 for the tunnel’s construction.
In conclusion, the Stad Ship Tunnel, if realized, is expected to provide safe and predictable traffic throughout the year on a highly exposed coastal section, thereby benefiting numerous sectors of the maritime industry and boosting the competitiveness and value creation of Norwegian companies.
