Risk assessment raises safety concerns for Suðuroy Tunnel project in Faroe Islands

A new risk assessment has been conducted on the Suðuroy Tunnel project by the tunnel company, P.f. Suðuroyartunnil, after it was revealed that the consultancy firm SWECO evaluated the original proposal from Norwegian company Norconsult. SWECO’s assessment highlighted significant concerns regarding safety measures, indicating that Norconsult’s proposal lacked the required safety protocols that SWECO had included in its earlier evaluation requested by Landsverk.

Norconsult’s new project proposal is considerably cheaper than previously estimated costs for the tunnel. However, it represents a reduced plan in terms of both size and safety. The tunnel width has decreased from 10.5 meters—akin to the Eysturoy Tunnel—to nine meters, matching the Sandoy Tunnel. Furthermore, the new proposal does not include safety chambers or escape routes, which SWECO had minimum requirements for in its 2022 risk assessment. The proposal also omits a public address system to guide occupants to safety in case of fire or smoke.

Hoj Consulting, led by Niels Peter Høj from Switzerland, has been commissioned to reassess Norconsult’s risk evaluation for both the construction and the finished tunnel. Hoj’s report raises concerns about the conditions laid out in Norconsult’s project, suggesting the need for further investigation regarding the tunnel width and safety systems.

Moreover, tunnels in the Faroe Islands are typically constructed according to Norwegian safety standards. There is debate over whether these standards, particularly those requiring a sister tunnel for emergency exits, are applicable in the Faroe Islands. Hoj Consulting emphasizes that if these standards are to be valid, political affirmation is necessary. The new risk assessment was a topic of discussion in a recent radio segment featuring Teitur Samuelsen, the company’s director.