
Electrician Janne Bengtsson and siblings Annika Alexandersson and William Nääs, who run the shipyard.
Björkö Skeppshandel is now loading for the future
At Björkö Skeppshandel in Skarvikshamnen, siblings Annika and William are open all year round with a philosophy based on cooperation, not competition. They sell everything from fuel and fishing equipment to clothes and toys. Now they are taking the next step, with a charging station for the future of boating.
A boat docks at the quay in Skarvikshamnen on Björkö, and a woman steps ashore to fill the tank from one of the pumps. The summer season hasn't started yet, but the dock is open all year round. Inside the quay is the low, vitriolic gray building where Björkö Skeppshandel is housed.
Inside the shop, fishing lures are mixed with sweets, life jackets with screws. It's a blissful - but well-ordered - mix. Here you can pick up packages, play on the trot, buy a pair of pants, find spare parts for your boat, buy a fishing rod for your grandchild - or just have a cup of coffee and chat for a while.
Siblings Annika Alexandersson and William Nääs run the shipping business, and own it together with their parents. The building in Skarvikshamnen has been there since 1957, but the story goes back further. As early as the 1920s, the fishermen on the island formed a joint beach fund to secure access to fuel in particular.
- Our great-grandfather co-founded the first association. I think that being an entrepreneur is in our DNA. All professional fishermen are self-employed," says Annika.
As the number of professional fishermen gradually decreased, the shipping trade adapted to a new reality. The range was broadened, but the essence remains the same: to cover the needs that might otherwise go unmet in a small community.
Running a shop on an island is not something you do to get rich. The winter is long and turnover is uneven, but the summer traffic brought by fuel sales makes it possible to stay open all year round. The passage between Björkö and Hälsö is busy during the boating season.
- We are open every day of the year, except Christmas Eve. The influx during the summer allows us to cope with the minus months. But we try to keep prices reasonable, at the same levels as in town. We're like a service shop, but we don't want to charge such high prices. That's not how we want to work," says Annika.

Björkö port.
For Jan Svensson, head of tourism and business in Öckerö municipality, it is obvious that Björkö Skeppshandel plays a crucial role:
- It is a hub, a gathering point. If you look at the southern archipelago, many businesses close in the winter, but here there are many that are open all year round. It means a lot to both visitors and residents of Björkö and the surrounding islands.
Entrepreneurship is a strong tradition in the archipelago, says Jan Svensson.
- The fishing culture lives on, where people had to work together to survive out at sea. You are so aware that everyone has to help and pull when the wind blows. We also have a very strong community life, which I think is unique to Öckerö. The cohesion is strong out here on the islands.
In the spring of 2025, the shipping trade will take another step into the future. With support from Klimatklivet, they are installing a new charging post, adapted for both electric cars and electric boats. The idea was born out of both curiosity and a concrete need.
- It was the right location. We knew that many people with electric cars park here on the island. And it's only a matter of time before more boats run on electricity. We wanted to be first on the ball," says William.
Electrification is a hot topic. For example, BRG is working for the Gothenburg region's transition to an electrified transport system. To drive the electrification of boating, BRG is collaborating with a number of actors in Sweden and Norway under the go:LEIF project. A number of charging stations have started to be installed along the coast, such as one in Lysekil owned and operated by the municipality.
The installation at Björkö Skeppshandel is something of a pilot project: an independent private initiative, in an environment that can be tough on technology. But the charging post is built to withstand salt spray and west coast winds. Electrician Janne Bengtsson, himself a Björkö resident, has ensured that nothing has been left to chance. It delivers enough power to fast-charge both cars and electric boats. In principle, the plant should take care of itself - all William and Annika need to do is set prices and keep track of consumption.
For the shipping industry, the charging point is not only a new service - it is also a way to evolve with society.
- People are starting to choose their destinations based on where they can charge. This means that we can continue to be an obvious point on the map," says Annika.
The future is always a little uncertain in the archipelago. But on Björkö, you solve most things yourself - a hole in the quay for electricity lines, a new fuel pump, a charging post. One step at a time. With the door open. For the siblings, the business is not just about selling goods, but about fulfilling a function in a society where distances are short but conditions are often tough.
- "We do this with our hearts," says Annika. "It may sound like a cliché, but we really enjoy it. We want it to feel like you can always come here - that you can talk to us about anything.
William nods:
- Running the shipping business is more of a lifestyle than a job. And we couldn't do it without our wonderful team of employees Tim, Åsa and Tony. But it's not just us who keep the shop alive - it's the whole community. When someone comes in with an idea or needs help, we always try to solve it. I think that's what keeps us going.
The philosophy permeates everything from the wide range of products to the way they price them. It should be reasonable, accessible and above all: relevant. When they chose to invest in a charging post, it wasn't just to keep up with the times - it was because they saw a need among their customers, and because it's in line with their ethos.
- We don't sell food, because that's in ICA. We don't sell soft ice cream, because you can find that in Glassboa. We want to complement, not compete," says William. If you want a society to work, you have to cooperate.
The charging station on Björkö
- Enables fast charging of both electric cars and leisure boats.
- Operated by Björkö Skeppshandel - one of the few private initiatives.
- The plant is weather and salt water resistant.
- Financed to 70 percent through Klimatklivet.
- An important addition to the West Coast's growing charging infrastructure for leisure boats, and part of the Gothenburg region's transition to an electrified transport system.
- To be commissioned in May 2025.
go:LEIF - EU project for the electrification of recreational craft
- Swedish-Norwegian electric boat charging project
- Will create conditions for a charging route for electric boats in marinas between Gothenburg and Strömstad, into the Oslo Fjord and further south on the other side of the Skagerrak to the Norwegian Agder.
- The project aims to contribute to the green transition through electrification, smart technologies and sustainable business models.
- Read more about the go:LEIF project.
"Björkö Skeppshandel's investment has been very exciting to follow together, and it will be an important charging point and contribution to the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric boats. We from go:LEIF welcome more similar initiatives in our waters in the future. It takes both courage and curiosity to take the step in a new technology shift, which Björkö Skeppshandel is proof of.
Madeleine Lilja, Project Manager go:LEIF