Suction mooring of ships in the Swedish Port of Kapellskär

Project Leader

The suction mooring project in the Port of Kapellskär has been carried out through collaboration between Ports of Stockholm and Finnlines.

Description of the project

The Port of Kapellskär, part of Ports of Stockholm, has implemented Sweden’s first suction mooring system, which uses vacuum pads to provide automated mooring. The MoorMaster system from Cavotec, a leader in clean technologies for ports and industrial applications, physically secures the ship to the quay using vacuum pads attached to the ship’s hull, eliminating the need for traditional mooring lines.

With the push of a button, this system allows the vessel to dock and undock in less than 30 and 15 seconds, respectively. It also allows the vessel’s engines to be quickly shut down after arrival in port, resulting in fuel savings, reduced NOx and CO₂ emissions, and reduced noise. And, in addition, it successfully reduces excessive vessel movement caused by waves.

The project was carried out in collaboration with Finnlines, and has been implemented on the company’s new vessel, the M/S Finnsirius, which operates on the Kapellskär – Långnäs – Naantali route, carrying passengers and Ro-Pax cargo.

Thanks to this system, the risk of damage is eliminated, as the handling of conventional mooring lines is the riskiest task during a ship’s call.

In addition, the project also includes the introduction of a next-generation crane system, the PowerReach NxG, which enables ships to connect to shore-side port power, improving operational efficiency and reducing waiting time.

The suction mooring project at the Port of Kapellskär is a perfect example of port innovation through cutting-edge technologies contributing to a better and more efficient operation of the port. This project has been financed with European funds.

Objectives of the project

The project in the Port of Kapellskär focuses on three main objectives. Firstly, damage reduction by eliminating the risk associated with the handling of traditional mooring lines. Secondly, it seeks to improve operational efficiency by implementing advanced mooring technologies that reduce waiting times. Finally, the project contributes to sustainability by reducing fuel consumption, NOx and CO₂ emissions, and noise, as well as enabling ships to connect to shore power. These objectives combine to achieve a safer, more efficient and sustainable operation of the port.