Last July, MSC-TIL, the world’s leading container operator, announced a €700 million investment in equipment designed to improve productivity at its Port 2000 terminal in Le Havre.

On Monday 22 May, less than a year later, TIL’s executives returned to Le Havre to reaffirm their ambition to make Port 2000 a leading terminal on the Northern European route.

“Our strategy remains unchanged, despite the difficult period we have just been through. Confidence in the Port of Le Havre, which is set to become the gateway to the North Sea, remains unshaken,” said David ELBEZ, head of port terminals for Africa and France at the MSC-TIL Group.

As such, an additional investment of €200 million has been announced, bringing the total budget to €900 million, notably including the installation of mega gantry cranes which are expected to be operational by the end of 2024.

“These mega gantry cranes will handle the world’s largest container ships, taking into account the tidal variations we experience in the English Channel and the tidal ranges that our current gantry cranes are unable to cope with. This will enable us to tap into new markets and new volumes, and meet the needs of seafarers and the global fleet,” continues David ELBEZ.

David ELBEZ’s stated aim is to compete with the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. To this end, “we have brought Le Havre’s rates into line with those of Antwerp and Rotterdam; this is a significant effort”.

An increase in staff numbers is also planned and already underway, as 140 dockers have already been recruited and new posts are expected to be created in maintenance and operations.

For its part, HAROPA PORT has increased the terminal’s capacity by delivering two new berths.

Its Managing Director, Stéphane RAISON, explains that the slipway will also contribute to this

development.

Sources: Ports et Corridors 23 May 2023 / JMM 23 May 2023.