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Stad Ship Tunnel
Norway plans to build the world's first tunnel for ships under a piece of rocky peninsula enabling cruise ships and freight ships to bypass the most exposed and treacherous part of the Stadhavet Sea along Norway's coast. The structure will be 36 metres wide, 49 metres tall and 1700m long and will take up to four years to build and cost an estimated NOK2.7billion, equivalent to approximately AUD420million.

The tunnel is expected to be located at the narrowest point of the Stadlandet peninsula where for decades, the weather has been considered an obstacle for shipping. The Norwegian Coastal Administration says the combination of sea currents and subsea topography creates particularly complex and unpredictable navigational conditions.

Once completed, the tunnel would be open to commercial and recreational vessels, and would be big enough to accommodate Hurtigruten cruise ships, which operate in the area. It would also allow for a fast ferry service between Bergen-Ålesund and Norway hopes it will boost tourism in the region.

The idea of a ship tunnel in the region was first suggested in a newspaper article in 1874 but after much debate and financing becoming available, the project can now be a reality. Construction is expected to commence at the earliest, in 2018.