5 March – Strong winds with risk of traffic restrictions or stoppages in the container terminal

On Wednesday, March 5, strong winds are expected at Port of Norrköping. The port’s container terminal holds approximately 3,500 shipping containers, stacked up to five high. </b>

During strong winds, there have been instances where containers have shifted or even fallen from their positions. We take this very seriously, as even an empty container weighs over two tons.

To ensure a safe working environment in the container terminal, we have established standardized procedures that are always in place, as well as additional measures to implement in the event of increased wind risk.

Under normal circumstances, the terminal is designed to facilitate safe operations during strong winds. This includes how we stack containers and plan traffic routes within the area.

In the case of strong winds, or when forecasts predict severe weather conditions, additional actions may be taken to reduce the risk and consequences of containers being displaced.

Risk Reduction Measures:

1. Initial Precautionary Action: Containers are lowered from exposed positions to minimize the risk of them being blown down. This occurs a few times per year, and during these occasions, operations continue as usual.
2. Operational Restrictions or Closure: In more extreme conditions, operations in the terminal may be limited or completely halted. This decision is made based on a comprehensive assessment, considering wind strength, gusts, and wind direction. Such measures are very rare.

For Wednesday, we assess that there is a risk that operational restrictions or even a temporary terminal closure may be necessary due to wind conditions.

We understand that this may affect your operations, but we hope for your understanding that safety must always come first—for both our personnel and visitors in the area.