Situated on the north coast of France, with good access to Paris and other major cities, the French Port of Le Havre has long been a popular port of call for cruise ships.<\/p>\n
Cruise capacity is set to increase as a result of infrastructure works that are underway and due for completion by 2026. Under the auspices of the Communaut\u00e9 Urbaine and Haropa Port, the ambitious works programme will see the delivery of three new, more comfortable and environmentally-friendly terminals.<\/p>\n
Construction will begin on Terminal 1 in September 2024 and will be completed in January 2026, with work on Terminals 2 and 3 starting this summer for completion in August 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new buildings will be energy-positive, thanks to the addition of a large photovoltaic roof and very efficient operating conditions,\u201d says general manager, Alexandra Ruiz. \u201cThe construction processes used will be low-carbon, with a target of 10% of materials transported by river to reduce the use of road transport.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new Le Havre Cruise Port will be able to comfortably accommodate around 13,500 passengers a day in transit. In addition to extensive landscaping to improve links with the city centre, these new facilities will also include events and promenade facilities to further strengthen the link between the people of Le Havre and the cruise ships that visit.<\/p>\n
Bigger picture<\/strong><\/p>\n The extent to which any port can welcome less-polluting vessels is a predictor of overall sustainability, and Le Havre is making significant investments in this regard. The development works include several environmental and sustainability initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions and promote environmentally friendly practices among cruise lines and other port operators.<\/p>\n \u201cNew infrastructure will supply electrical connection of ships to the quayside, enabling zero-emission calls,\u201d says Ms Ruiz.<\/p>\n Work has begun on burying the cables for the shore-power connection so that the three shore power platforms can be brought into service between 202eni5 and 2026.<\/p>\n The provision of facilities for LNG bunkering will help reduce pollution in the harbour area.<\/p>\n Ms Ruiz explains: \u201cThe port encourages the use of cleaner fuels such as LNG and fuels with a low sulphur content, thanks to favourable tax arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n The port is working to improve waste reception facilities and encourages cruise lines to minimise the use of single-use plastics. Specialised facilities for the management and treatment of cruise ship waste allow for the sorting, recycling and appropriate disposal of solid, liquid and hazardous waste produced by ships.<\/p>\n The development of the Florida Point site in the Port will allow for robust measures to manage vessel-related pollution.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we know, cruise operations can affect local marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly through anchoring and potential oil spills,\u201d says Ms Ruiz.<\/p>\n \u201cThe discharge of ballast water, wastewater and grey water can introduce pollutants and invasive species into local marine environments. The Port of Le Havre already applies very strict regulations for the treatment of ballast water and the discharge of wastewater. We will also have a government department on the site responsible for clean-up operations in the event of a major crisis (oil spill or other).\u201d<\/p>\n Well connected<\/strong><\/p>\n The city of Le Havre is well connected to the main roads, making it easy for cruise passengers arriving or departing by road. The A29 and A131 motorways provide rapid access to the French motorway network. Paris airports are within easy reach, offering convenient options for international passengers.<\/p>\n Infrastructure investments by the port and the city of Le Havre encourage sustainable modes of transport such as electric shuttles, self-service bicycles and scooters, and improved public transport services for cruise passengers.<\/p>\n Beyond the day-to-day running of the services required to manage cruise calls, the sustainability of any cruise port depends on successfully addressing social challenges such as the impact on residents of the volume of tourists visiting the port.<\/p>\n \u201cFortunately, the urban geography of Le Havre, with its many districts and its 2km-long beach, means that we can easily absorb a surplus of visitors,\u201d says Ms Ruiz.<\/p>\n \u201cNevertheless, we are committed to pursuing an objective of economic benefit by investing in direct job creation: cruise terminal agents, security and reception services, maintenance, and so on, as well as indirect jobs in the tourism, catering, hotel and retail sectors, and for tour guides, taxi drivers and excursion operators.\u201d<\/p>\n She adds: \u201cThe presence of cruise ships and their passengers helps to promote tourism in the region. Le Havre thus benefits from increased visibility as a tourist destination, which can attract more visitors in the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n Regional benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n Another important positive consequence of cruise operations that Ms Ruiz identifies is the creation of income for local businesses: Cruise ship passengers and crew spend money in the city on shopping, dining, sightseeing and leisure, which stimulates local businesses. Local suppliers can also benefit from contracts to supply the ships with food, drink and other necessities.<\/p>\n \u201cCruise tourist spending has a multiplier effect on the local economy, as the money spent circulates through different economic sectors, supporting a wide range of services and businesses,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd let\u2019s not forget the port taxes and fees paid by cruise lines to use port facilities, which generate income for the port authority and can be reinvested in improving facilities and services. In short, cruise activity in Le Havre plays a crucial role in the economic dynamism of the region, generating income, creating jobs and stimulating various local economic sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooperation among the port\u2019s many stakeholders is an important part of these activities. \u201cTackling sustainability challenges requires the strong involvement of a number of stakeholders, including port authorities, cruise lines, local and regional politicians, businesses and environmental organisations,\u201d says Ms Ruiz.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a strong desire to take up these challenges in Le Havre, and together we can effectively manage the sustainability issues associated with cruise industry activities and promote a more sustainable and resilient port environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout the year, representatives of the cruise port take part in trade shows, conferences and various symposia related to sustainable tourism and sustainable cruising. \u201cThis enables us to communicate with the other players in the industry about the best practices we are all experimenting with, the new regulations in force and the improvements to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Pooling resources<\/strong><\/p>\n She explains that cooperation with other nearby ports is also a key part of the port\u2019s strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to the association of cruise ports on the Channel and Atlantic coasts, we are pooling our financial, human and technical resources to promote and raise the profile of the Normandy, Brittany, Val-de-Loire and South-West regions. At a local level, we run the Club Croisi\u00e8re, which brings together companies involved in the tourism sector, particularly cruises, in Le Havre and the surrounding area.\u201d<\/p>\n The cruise passenger experience remains a crucial piece of the puzzle. Ms Ruiz says: \u201cTo enhance the tourist appeal of the city and its region in order to attract a greater number of cruise lines and passengers, we want to position Le Havre as a must-see destination for cruise passengers through marketing campaigns and partnerships with tourism operators.\u201d<\/p>\n The port\u2019s strategy to attract cruise visitors includes \u201cpromoting the city\u2019s cultural and historical sites, such as the modern architecture of the city centre, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, and developing authentic excursions and experiences for cruise passengers that highlight local culture, gastronomy and traditions. We are also increasing our collaboration with other Channel and Atlantic ports to create attractive cruise itineraries.\u201d<\/p>\n There is a strong focus on maximising the economic benefits for local and regional businesses, particularly in the hotel, restaurant and retail sectors, and generating local employment opportunities.<\/p>\n Looking to the future, Ms Ruiz says: \u201cWe plan to continue developing and improving the infrastructure and facilities to accommodate larger ships and increase capacity, while optimising passenger and baggage management processes to ensure a smooth and pleasant experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis includes maintaining high standards of port security to guarantee the safety of passengers and ships, as well as health vigilance: implementing rigorous protocols to prevent epidemics and protect the health of passengers and port workers.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Ruiz believes that this multifaceted approach will ensure the best and most sustainable outcomes for all concerned. \u201cThe development of cruises in Le Havre is part of an overall strategy to improve the attractiveness of the city, stimulate the local economy, promote sustainable practices and offer a high-quality experience to cruise passengers.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cruise terminal development will enable further growth for Le Havre\u2019s busy cruise port while enhancing environmentally friendly facilities for ships, says Michele Witthaus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":4443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75,34,1376],"tags":[296,118,327,1489,265,573,657,179],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-4442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cruise-greenport","category-europe-greenport","category-greenport-exclusive","tag-cruise","tag-electrification","tag-infrastructure","tag-le-havre","tag-lng-bunkering","tag-marine-civils","tag-port-construction","tag-shore-power"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4444,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442\/revisions\/4444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4442"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=4442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}