Shifting Freight Transport From Road to Sea - A Study of the Possibilities of Sustainable Development in the Scanian Ports

Abstract: The study derives from the concerns of climate change, the need for mitigation and adaption as well for more environmentally sustainable transport systems. A solution for reducing emissions from the transportation sector is to shift freight transports from road to sea- a solution for future environmental sustainability. As a foundation for how Scania should work with sea transportation as an alternative transport mode, this deductive study examines a possible shift to sea, identifies and analyses the sustainable development opportunities for the commercial Scanian ports to enable for a realisation. The empirical data consists of 15 qualitative semi-structured interviews with managers within port organisations and stakeholders related to the Scanian ports in the public and private sector, resulting in rich amounts of data of possibilities and challenges of sustainable development in Scania. This resulted in qualitative analyses of the theoretical framework and the collected data and culminated into SWOT-analyses of environmental, economical and social aspects and a causal-loop diagram showing causes and effects of sustainable transportation. The study concludes that a shift of freight transport to sea is possible but requires political courage and engagement through investments in solid infrastructure to enable for intermodal and coastal opportunities. It calls for fair conditions to compete between transport modes and between the ports. It requires environmental and social awareness, a change in demand of sustainable transport modes from consumers to maintain ecosystem services, supporting the mitigation and adaption to climate change in Scania and Sweden.