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Summer greetings from the port director 2026
July 1, 2026
Dear partners, customers, owners and employees,
As we now enter the summer, we do so after six months that have shown the importance of the Port of Kristiansand for the region – as a transport hub, a creator of value and an increasingly important part of Norway's emergency preparedness and security of supply.
The world around us is changing rapidly. Geopolitical tensions, new security challenges and increasing demands for robust value chains mean that the role of ports is more important than ever. Ports are no longer just places where goods and people pass through. They are critical infrastructure, essential for business, energy supply, trade and total defense.
We also notice this in Kristiansand.
Activity has been high throughout the first four months. Total operating revenues from the port's six service areas ended at NOK 45.8 million, an increase of almost 30 percent compared to the same period last year. The growth is broadly based in the business, with particularly strong development within offshore, cruise and ferry traffic. Offshore Supply Port has more than tripled its revenues, driven by long-term project stays and increased delivery of shore power.
At the same time, we see that the vessels visiting us are becoming increasingly larger. The number of calls is stable, while the total gross tonnage has increased by almost four percent. Many cruise calls and larger cruise ships, stable ferry calls with both passengers and cargo and increased offshore activity contribute to the growth and underline the need for capacity, flexibility and modern port infrastructure.
We got a good picture of this on January 29. Then all of the port's service areas were represented simultaneously in Kristiansand. Fishing, ferry, container, cruise, offshore, bulk and general cargo were all in operation on the same day. A total of 14 vessels were at the quay in the city center, with a total length of 1.37 kilometers. The activity occupied nine quays and large parts of the available quay front, while there was high activity on Kongsgård . In the middle of winter. It illustrates better than anything else that the Port of Kristiansand is a year-round port with high activity well beyond the summer months.
The results build on a very strong 2025. The cruise year was the best in the port's history with 170 calls and nearly 430,000 passengers. We also see a clear trend towards year-round cruises, which contributes to activity and value creation throughout the region. Ferry traffic maintained a stable high level with over 1,500 calls, while total freight volume ended at around 2.72 million tonnes. Container traffic amounted to 41,520 TEU, and activity in the Lindesnes port district reached its highest levels since the merger in 2021.
Behind these figures lies more than just traffic across the quay. There are jobs, export revenues, industrial production, tourism and value chains that extend far beyond the port's own areas.
At the same time, 2025 and the first part of 2026 have been characterized by significant development work. The projects related to the new container terminal at Kongsgård /Vige, the development of the ferry terminal and the further clarifications around Lagmannsholmen and Caledonien will shape both the harbor and the city for decades to come.
The relocation of container activity to Kongsgård /Vige is about much more than logistics. It is about securing future capacity for business, strengthening the region's competitiveness and facilitating further urban development in central areas. The work on Vige Havnevei, the new container terminal and associated infrastructure is therefore not just a port project - it is an important regional development project.
At the same time, we see how the capacity of Kongsgård creates new opportunities. During the first four months of the year, we conducted six ship-to-ship operations, a significant increase from the previous year. This type of activity is entirely dependent on available port space and underlines the importance of maintaining and further developing capacity at Kongsgård .
We also see how the port is developing as an arena for new technology and new markets. In January, we welcomed the remotely operated vessel Reach Remote 1, an example of how maritime innovation and autonomous technology are finding their way to Kristiansand. At the same time, we were able to welcome the very first cruise call to Båly in Lindesnes – a result of targeted work to develop the entire port district.
During the first four months, we conducted six ship-to-ship operations.
At a time when emergency preparedness and security of supply are high on the agenda, the port's role in society is also becoming clearer. The new port emergency preparedness regulations place higher demands on cooperation between ports, the Armed Forces, the Norwegian Coastal Administration and other key players. For the Port of Kristiansand, this is work that we are already well underway. Over several years, we have built strong relationships and collaborative structures that are now becoming even more important.
We see a growing interest in the port's capacities and strategic location. Throughout the year, we have had visits from both military and allied vessels, including the Dutch submarine HNLMS Bruinvis. At the same time, the Armed Forces' presence in the region is being strengthened, and the reconstruction of the Agder Homeland Security District emphasizes the importance of Southern Norway in a broader total defense perspective.
When we return after the summer, we enter a period that will be important for the entire maritime industry.
This year, Arendal Week has a stronger maritime feel than ever before. Cruises, ports, maritime transport, emergency preparedness and value creation are high on the agenda throughout the week, and the Port of Kristiansand will actively contribute to several events and debates. When issues of security of supply, energy, business development and green transition are discussed, the ports must be part of the conversation.
We are also looking forward to two eventful port days on 19 and 20 August, when InnovationHUB and the Port Conference will once again bring together leaders, experts and decision-makers from all over the country. This year, the Port Conference is being held for the 15th time, and the anniversary edition will focus on one of the most important themes of our time: "The frontline of infrastructure – ports under cross-pressure, resilience in a new era".
In a world characterized by green transition, geopolitical tensions and technological shifts, ports have taken on a new and clearer role. They are not only hubs for goods and people, but a central part of both security of supply, value creation and total defense. That is precisely why we want to bring the industry together for discussions on how we build robust value chains and strong maritime societies in the years to come.
Later in August, we will also participate in ONS in Stavanger together with the rest of the maritime and energy-related industry. This year's theme is "Courage" , and the conference focuses on how business, government and technology players must make courageous choices to meet challenges related to energy security, geopolitics and climate change.
For us, these topics are closely linked. Whether we are talking about ports, shipping, energy, industry or logistics, it is about the same thing: strong value chains, secure jobs and societies that are robust enough to handle both restructuring and unforeseen events. No one actor can solve these challenges alone. That is why collaboration is more important than ever.
I would like to extend a big thank you to our employees, customers, owners and partners for their efforts so far this year. The results we see today are the result of long-term work, high competence and good cooperation between many players.
Now I hope you all have the opportunity to enjoy the summer and gain new energy.
We look forward to a busy and exciting autumn – with continued high activity, important milestones in our development projects and a clear goal to strengthen the Port of Kristiansand's role as the region's most important hub for value creation, transport, emergency preparedness and security of supply.
Happy summer!
Atle Johannessen
Port Director, Port of Kristiansand
