On November 27, LKAB inaugurated its new ship loader at the Port of Narvik in Norway. This is a strategic investment in the company’s logistics system, creating the conditions for long-term operations in the region.
The old ship loader was commissioned in 1977 and has reached the end of its technical lifespan. Now, a modern facility takes over, built to meet today’s requirements for efficiency, work environment, and environmental performance.
“Our logistics is a competitive factor. Every improvement in the port strengthens our position in the global market. The new loader is enclosed and equipped with modern safety solutions, which is important not least from a work environment perspective. This secures our ability to deliver quickly, safely, and sustainably,” says Marit Waleniussen, CEO of LKAB Norway.
The ship loader is part of a larger ongoing investment program of five billion SEK through 2029. This includes automated silo systems, a new loader at quay 5, sifting stations, belt conveyors, unloading stations, and a new storage facility for fines. All aimed at streamlining logistics between mine, railway, and ship.
“We see Narvik as a central part of LKAB’s future. The Iron Ore Line and the port of Narvik are of great economic importance for Sweden and a strategically vital transport corridor for all of Europe. What still remains is to increase capacity along the entire Iron Ore Line,” says Jan Moström, President and CEO of LKAB.
Narvik’s ice-free and deep-water port is crucial for LKAB’s exports. Around 300 vessels call annually, of which 200 are loaded with LKAB’s products. LKAB accounts for 80 percent of all iron ore mined in the EU, and the vast majority is delivered via the Iron Ore Line and the port of Narvik.
“We have been in Narvik for over 120 years and plan for at least 120 more. Our continued investments here send a clear signal that we see Narvik as a central part of LKAB’s future,” says Jan Moström.
Facts about the port and ship loader in Narvik
  • Each year, about 22 million tonnes of iron ore products are shipped from Kiruna and Svappavaara to Narvik for export.
  • Transport takes place via the Iron Ore Line (Malmbanan), a critical link in LKAB’s logistics system. Around ten train sets arrive daily, hauled by IORE locomotives with a capacity of up to 8,000 tonnes per train.
  • A vessel is normally loaded within 12 to 48 hours, depending on size.
  • Narvik’s port is ice-free, enabling year-round exports. The port is also deep and accommodates the largest vessels. Each year, 300 ships call at the port, about 200 of which are loaded with LKAB’s products.
  • 99 percent of LKAB’s approximately 200 employees in Narvik live in the municipality.
  • The new ship loader complies with CE standards for both external environment and workplace safety. It is optimized for more efficient maintenance and is enclosed, minimizing downtime during servicing.
  • The old loader U5 was commissioned in 1977 and has become a landmark in Narvik. The large crane that supported the old loader has been retained and renovated so the new loader could be installed in the same location. The old crane rails from the 1970s have also been replaced.