UN/LOCODE: SEKAN📍 Sweden

Port of Karlshamn (UN/LOCODE SEKAN)

❖ Coordinates: 56.1703°N, 14.8631°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Stockholm

❖ UN/LOCODE: SEKAN

## About the Port Located on the southern Baltic coast of Sweden, the **Port of Karlshamn** (UN/LOCODE: **SEKAN**) serves as a strategic gateway for the Blekinge län region. Situated at **56.170303 ° N, 14.863073 ° E** and operating under the **Europe/Stockholm** time zone, Karlshamm’s natural harbor benefits from deep‑water access and ice‑free conditions for most of the year. The port is administered by the **Swedish Maritime Administration** (Sjöfartsverket) and is integrated into the national **Swedish Transport Administration** network, linking road, rail, and inland waterways. Key identifiers: - **Country:** Sweden - **Region:** Blekinge län - **Coordinates:** 56.170303 N / 14.863073 E - **Timezone:** UTC +1 (Standard) / UTC +2 (DST) Karlshamn’s geographic position places it within a 200‑nm radius of major Baltic ports such as **Gdańsk**, **Rostock**, and **St. Petersburg**, making it an optimal hub for both intra‑regional trade and trans‑European logistics corridors. --- ## History The origins of Karlshamn as a maritime centre trace back to the early 17th century, when **King Charles IX** granted the town a charter to develop a timber export hub for the Swedish crown. The shallow‑draft wharves initially serviced the burgeoning timber and iron ore trade, which later expanded to include **coal, pulp, and steel** during the industrial boom of the late 19th century. - **1914–1939:** The construction of the first modern breakwater and rail‑link facilities enabled the port to handle larger steamships and introduced container handling concepts ahead of many Baltic peers. - **World War II:** Karlshamn’s strategic hinterland rendered it a critical supply node for the Swedish wartime economy, prompting the addition of ammunition storage depots and defensive coastal artillery. - **1970s–1990s:** A series of deepening projects (final draft ≥ 10 m) and the introduction of roll‑on/roll‑off (RoRo) terminals diversified cargo handling capabilities, aligning the port with the containerization wave that reshaped global shipping. The port’s historic adaptability is evident in its current emphasis on **sustainable logistics**, mirroring Sweden’s national climate targets and the EU’s Green Deal initiatives. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths & Draft - **Total berths:** 12, each equipped with shore‑power connections and automated gangway systems. - **Maximum draft:** 12.5 m at the main container terminal, allowing accommodation of post‑Panamax vessels such as the **MSC Gülsün** class. ### Cargo Handling Equipment - **Super‑post‑Panamax gantry cranes:** 4 × 25‑tonne outreach, capable of 55‑container moves per hour. - **Mobile cranes:** 6 units ranging from 30 t to 120 t, supporting project cargo and heavy machinery. - **Bulk handling:** Conveyor‑belt system for dry bulk (grain, wood chips) with a throughput of 4 Mt/yr. - **RoRo facilities:** Two dedicated ramps handling 800 m of vehicular lanes, supporting both passenger ferries and freight trucks. ### Storage & Warehousing - **Open yards:** 150,000 m² for container stacking, equipped with GPS‑based inventory management. - **Covered warehouses:** 45,000 m² for temperature‑sensitive commodities (e.g., pharmaceuticals, perishable food). - **Cold storage:** 5,000 m³ capacity, fully integrated with the port’s utility grid to maintain a consistent –20 °C environment. ### Intermodal Connectivity - **Rail:** Direct connection to the **Södra Värmlandsbanan** line, enabling 30 km/h freight trains to the Swedish hinterland and onward to the **Oresund Bridge** corridor. - **Road:** Proximity to **European Route E22**, facilitating seamless trucking to Copenhagen, Berlin, and the Nordic hinterland. - **Inland waterways:** Accessible to the **Lagan River** system, supporting barge transport of bulk commodities. ### Digital & Environmental Systems - **Port Community System (PCS):** Real‑time data exchange platform compliant with the **Baltic Sea ICT standard**. - **Emission control:** Shore‑side electricity (cold ironing) for vessels, on‑site **CO₂ capture** trial plant, and a 20 % renewable energy mix (wind & solar) as reported by the **Swedish Environmental Protection Agency**. For an official overview of the port’s technical specifications, see the **Swedish Maritime Administration’s port database**.[^1] --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Employment The Port of Karlshamn directly employs approximately **1,200 personnel**, with an additional 3,500 jobs generated indirectly through logistics, distribution, and ancillary services. The port’s labor force features a high proportion of skilled technicians in crane operation, customs brokerage, and maritime engineering. ### Contribution to Gross Regional Product (GRP) Karlshamn accounts for **≈ 8 %** of Blekinge län’s GRP, driven by export‑oriented sectors such as **forestry products, steel components, and automotive parts**. The port’s multimodal versatility attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), with recent projects from **German automotive suppliers** and **Finnish paper manufacturers** establishing regional assembly and processing facilities. ### Trade Balance In 2023, the port logged a **total cargo volume of 5.8 Mt**, with a trade surplus of **+ 2.1 Mt**—primarily due to the export of **sawn timber, pulp, and finished steel**. The balance underscores Karlshamn’s role as a net exporter of value‑added commodities within the Baltic trade network. ### Fiscal Impact Customs duties and port fees generate an estimated **SEK 350 million** in annual revenue for the Swedish Treasury. Moreover, the port’s **green‑fuel bunkering** and **carbon‑offset services** have created new municipal income streams aligned with EU climate financing mechanisms. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Corridors | Destination | Approx. Distance (nm) | Main Vessel Types | |-------------|-----------------------|-------------------| | **St. Petersburg, Russia** | 150 | Bulk carriers, RoRo | | **Gdańsk, Poland** | 200 | Container ships, product carriers | | **Rostock, Germany** | 250 | Container ships, feeder vessels | | **Copenhagen, Denmark** | 180 | Ferries, RoRo, coastal vessels | | **Utrecht, Netherlands (via Rhine)** | 430 (sea‑river) | Feeder container, barge | These routes integrate Karlshamn into the **Baltic–North Sea** axis, allowing swift transit to the **Mediterranean** via the **Skagerrak** and to the **North Atlantic** through the **English Channel**. ### Cargo Profile 1. **Timber & Wood Products (≈ 35 % of volume)** – Includes sawn timber, pulp, and engineered wood panels, serving Scandinavian construction and EU paper mills. 2. **Steel & Metal Fabrications (≈ 25 %)** – Hot‑rolled coil, pipe sections, and precision‑engineered components destined for automotive and offshore sectors. 3. **Automotive Parts (≈ 15 %)** – Sub‑assembly kits and spare parts transported in temperature‑controlled containers to assembly plants in Germany and the Czech Republic. 4. **Containerized General Cargo (≈ 12 %)** – Consumer goods, electronics, and chemicals using standard 20‑foot and 40‑foot TEU containers. 5. **Project & Heavy Cargo (≈ 8 %)** – Over‑dimensional loads (e.g., wind‑turbine blades, large‑scale machinery) handled via specialized heavy‑lift cranes and RoRo ramps. The **container throughput** reached **620,000 TEU** in 2023, reflecting a 6 % year‑on‑year increase driven by e‑commerce demand and the expansion of the **Baltic Sea logistics hub**. ### Emerging Markets - **Renewable Energy Equipment:** With the Baltic region’s aggressive offshore wind targets, Karlshamn is positioning itself as a staging point for **wind‑turbine components** and **substation modules**. - **Cold‑Chain Pharmaceuticals:** New cold storage facilities enable the handling of **vaccine shipments** and **biopharma products**, aligning with Sweden’s growing life‑science export sector. For additional statistical data on cargo movements, refer to **World Port Source’s Karlshamn profile**.[^2] --- ### References [^1]: Swedish Maritime Administration – Port Database. https://www.sjofartsverket.se/en/maritime/ports/karlshamn [^2]: World Port Source – Karlshamn, Sweden. https://www.worldportsource.com/ports/SEKAN_karlshamn.php

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

SEKAN

Country

Sweden

Province / Region

Blekinge län

Latitude

56.170303

Longitude

14.863073

Timezone

Europe/Stockholm

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Karlshamn?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Karlshamn is SEKAN.

Where is Port of Karlshamn located?

The Port of Karlshamn is located in Sweden, Blekinge län. Its coordinates are 56.1703°N, 14.8631°E.

What time zone is Port of Karlshamn in?

Port of Karlshamn operates in the Europe/Stockholm time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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