Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent | Nov 29, 2011 8:14AM EST
Le Havre will open a $215 million container terminal in early 2012 that will allow France’s biggest box port to handle the largest ships and boost annual capacity by over 1 million 20-foot equivalent units.
The terminal, to be used by Mediterranean Shipping Co, will have four berths in a 4,593-foot long quay, capable of handling ships up to 14,000 TEUs without tidal constraints.
The terminal, developed by France’s Perrigault group, is located in Le Havre’s deepwater container complex outside the port’s lock system. Le Havre said the new terminal is key part of the port’s plan to double annual traffic to 5 million TEUs by 2020.
“The new facilities will enable our biggest vessels to benefit from a guaranteed draught of [52.5 feet]. This will bring, without doubt, business increase and development of MSC in Le Havre,” said Stephan Snjjders, general manager of MSC France.
The first berth is scheduled to start operations in early 2012, with the remaining three to open toward the end of the year. Geneva-based MSC will start moving its activities from older facilities in Le Havre to the new terminal next year.
-- Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.