By rosebell
With the aim of advancing the construction of the Stad ship tunnel, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) is strengthening its project organisation and establishing a collaboration with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA).
According to NCA director-general Einar Vik Arset: “The NPRA has significant tunnel expertise that will enhance the work on the world’s first ship tunnel. The NCA is considered a one-time constructor when it comes to such a large project as the Stad ship tunnel, so it is not ideal to build a large internal project organisation; that is why we have initiated a collaboration with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. This will give the NCA access to expertise and capacity from an experienced project management organisation, thereby strengthening our own project organisation.”
Arset also added: “The NCA’s project organisation has made a significant effort to bring the project to where it is today. However, in the next phase, the project needs to be strengthened, both as we enter the tendering and negotiation process and during the construction period.”
In order to preparing the project organisation for the start of construction, several new resources are being brought in, including project and construction management, geology, tunnel operations, health and safety, and workplace regulations.
Describing the ship tunnel as a spectacular and incredibly exciting project, NPRA’s division director, Kjell Inge Davik said: “There is a lot of interest in it, especially from the construction industry. We have broad expertise in large infrastructure and tunnel projects, which will benefit the ship tunnel, both in the upcoming tender and contract phase, and potentially in the cAlthoug the initial intention of this agreement is to governing the collaboration between the agencies during the tender phase and leading up to contract signing, it may be expanded to cover the actual construction of the ship tunnel.
Currentl, the Stad ship tunnel project is in the final stages of completing documentation and tender materials. Quality assurance is ongoing before the construction project can be put out to tender, which the NPRA is assisting with.
While the recently announced date for issuing the tunnel construction tender was October 2024, the NCA now hopes to have it ready by Christmas.
“The NCA has done a good and thorough job with the tender documents. Now, we are getting some extra eyes on them before finalisation, but this will not lead to any major changes. We will probably not be able to get the tender out by October as previously reported, but we aim to have it out in the market well before Christmas. At the same time, we are securing valuable expertise ahead of reviewing the offers and starting the negotiations early 2025,” said Arset.onstruction phase.”
