The amount of €160 million, (US$212m) will be invested in a new container terminal at the French port of Le Havre. The investment, concerning the terminal’s buildings and loading/unloading areas, will be made by Shipping line MSC and cargo-handling operator Terminaux de Normandie (TN) through their joint-venture company TNMSC.
The new 1,400 meters TNMSC terminal located in the western zone of Port 2000, will be equipped with four berths. The first berth is expected to start operating at the end of January and the other two by the end of 2012.
Dredging of the access channel to the port and the construction of the quay have attracted €270 million of public funding.
TNMSC General Manager Christian de Tinguy said the new hub marked a new stage of development for MSC in Le Havre.
“ It will enable MSC to have any kind of vessel in its fleet – including 14,000teu ships – calling at the same wharf whatever the time and tide ,” he said.
A port authority spokesman told IFW: “ Following the completion of the TNMSC terminal, Port 2000 will be offering 10 berths and there is the possibility of adding a further two. These would be served by 4,200 metres of quay and offer an annual capacity of 4 million teu. ”
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Dredging Today Staff, November 28, 2011;