On February 1, 2015, Yilport Oslo took over operations of the container terminal at Sjursøya under contract with Port of Oslo. Now, the terminal is marking its 10th anniversary.
Before Yilport Oslo's establishment, there were two terminal operators in Sydhavna: Oslo Container Terminal (OCT) at Ormsundkaia handled the largest volumes. Sjursøya Container Terminal (SCT) was a smaller but significant operator.
“Bringing the two terminals together and getting them up and running was challenging, but efficiency quickly followed. However, market support did not keep pace, causing economic growth to lag. This delay directly impacted the ability to invest in our environmental ambitions, which affected the terminal's overall efficiency over the past decade. The good news is that the tide is turning, and we expect 2025 to deliver strong results on both fronts,” says Eryn Dinyovszky, Nordic Regional Director at Yilport Holding.
Maximizing Land Efficiency in Sydhavna
In 2000, Oslo City Council's Fjord City plan mandated that 50% of the historic port area be repurposed for urban development, placing significant demands on land efficiency in Sydhavna.
“Developing and repurposing the land at Sjursøya was part of our strategy to establish a single, modern, forward-looking container terminal. Relocating the container terminal away from Ormsundkaia has successfully optimized port space and reduced terminal noise. An urban port needs to maintain good relations with its neighbors, and top-tier environmental solutions are essential," says Ingvar M. Mathisen, Port Director, Port of Oslo.
Meeting Customer Expectations
The Sjursøya container terminal is Norway’s largest, handling approximately one-third of all containers entering the country. Goods arriving by sea can reach half of Norway’s population within three hours.
Yilport Oslo's primary mission is to meet the business sector's needs for importing and exporting goods.
“We are one of the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly container terminals, operating with minimal congestion. Terminal Manager Bjørn Engelsen and his team do an outstanding job, ensuring efficient loading and unloading operations every single day. Support and effective systems provided by Yilport as a global player have professionalized and streamlined Oslo's container terminal. Customer feedback confirms their satisfaction," says Einar Marthinussen, Commercial Director, Port of Oslo.
Successful Partnership
Yilport Oslo is part of Yilport Holding, which is headquartered in Turkey and has a regional office in Sweden. The company has a 20-year operating contract with Port of Oslo until 2035, with an option to extend for an additional 10 years.
As the owner of the container terminal, Port of Oslo is responsible for infrastructure investments, while Yilport Oslo manages daily operations. Since 2015, Port of Oslo has invested significantly in zero-emission electric quay and stacking cranes and is now constructing shore power facilities for container ships.
"This model works exceptionally well for us, as our growth incentives align with appropriate checks and balances set by the operating agreement. Professional, transparent, and open dialogue among stakeholders is crucial. Over the past decade, we have never felt that unilateral actions have been taken. Today’s global uncertainty and shifting market conditions make this collaborative approach essential to adapt to the needs of both the market and customers," says Dinyovszky.
Steady Growth
Yilport Oslo experienced consistent growth in container volumes from 2015 through 2022.
In 2015, the terminal handled 195,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), peaking at 303,000 TEUs in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, container volumes stood at 246,000 TEUs and 241,000 TEUs, respectively. The terminal has a theoretical capacity of 450,000 TEUs annually.
"Oslo is at the heart of a growing market. Although container volumes have declined slightly in recent years due to high interest rates and an economic downturn, it is reassuring to have a modern container terminal capable of handling expected growth toward 2050," says Marthinussen.
Yilport Holding aims to rank among the world’s top ten terminal operators by 2030.
"Yilport remains in growth mode and seeks investment opportunities in new terminals worldwide. Oslo serves as a benchmark for many in the industry. Our ambition for Yilport Oslo is to maintain its status as the global standard for efficiency and environmental sustainability while proactively planning for new equipment investments," says Dinyovszky.
Environmental Gains
Port of Oslo aims to reduce emissions by 85% by 2030 and ultimately become the world's first zero-emission port. Yilport Oslo significantly contributes to lowering emissions far beyond the city's borders. Transporting goods by sea in containers is an energy-efficient mode of transportation. Carboncare says sea transport on the Rotterdam-Oslo route produces approximately 80% lower CO2 emissions than road transport.
Investment from Port of Oslo has been instrumental in converting all vertical equipment at Yilport Oslo, including STS quay cranes and RTG stacking cranes, to run on electricity. While large cranes are continuously powered by electricity, mobile terminal tractors and reach stackers have been diesel-powered.
Maritime Truck has an agreement to provide terminal tractor services to Yilport Oslo by the hour and is currently testing electric terminal tractors at the container terminal. These tests will determine whether the tractors have sufficient battery capacity and charge quickly enough to meet the high-efficiency standards required for loading and unloading operations.
"Meeting these ambitious climate goals is challenging but essential for maintaining our long-term right to operate. Oslo is leading the way in the port industry, and we must strike the right balance by implementing proven technology without compromising customer efficiency. We are committed to finding this balance and supporting these objectives," says Dinyovszky.
A Skilled and Positive Workforce
“Yilport Oslo faced rough waters early on, with customer dissatisfaction over changes and a labor dispute related to dockworkers’ loading and unloading duties. The transition was also a major adjustment for Port of Oslo, as its crane operators were transferred to Yilport Oslo. Ten years later, I believe we can confidently state the establishment of Yilport Oslo has been a success," says Marthinussen.
Nordic Regional Director at Yilport Holding, Eryn Dinyovszky, highlights the efficient and skilled workforce as the key success factor for Yilport Oslo.
"Oslo has an exceptionally stable and competent workforce. This stability, combined with an open, transparent, and positive working relationship, has been the backbone of our operational flexibility, allowing us to serve our customers effectively. You rarely see such a positive and cooperative spirit on docks globally," says Dinyovszky.
She expresses pride in the team’s efforts to keep Yilport Oslo operating at peak efficiency.
"Looking back at the early days, I still see the same faces at the container terminal today,” concludes Dinyovszky. “These same individuals are now eager to tackle the challenges ahead. This is Yilport Oslo."