MSC invests in Le Havre

The new TNMSC terminal will extend along 1,400 metres of quay and is an investment to the tune of 160 million euro. Grand Port Maritime du Havre (GPMH) are managing the works.

The new terminal could start operations from as early as the beginning of 2012.

Mr Hervé Cornède, commercial and marketing director of GPMH, said to Port Strategy: “This move is necessary in order to match port of Le Havre’s ambitions with regards to container traffic growth for the coming years. It will enable the port to receive all vessels from the MSC fleet – including 14,000 TEU ships, whatever the tide and time, without having to cross a lock. It will use a traffic exchange area making it possible to consolidate all mass transport flows – road, rail and waterway transport solutions – available from the terminal.”

He added: “This means significant traffic growth for the port of Le Havre, in line with its strategic policy.”

And that strategic policy is all part of a wider scheme to reform French ports – Grand Port Maritime du Havre aims to double its container traffic by 2020 to reach 5 million teu.