The development of the new cruise terminal has reached a new milestone in its ability to accommodate ships and their passengers.

On 6 July, HAROPA PORT took delivery of the new mobile harbour crane designed specifically for cruise operations. Loaded at the port of Venice Marghera onto the roll-on/roll-off vessel Western Rock, the crane sailed for 13 days before arriving in Le Havre.

Two further electric rail-mounted cranes are scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2025 at Pointe de Floride. At the same time, HAROPA PORT is continuing work on the electrical connection of ships to the quay to enable zero-emission port calls from 2025. A flagship project promoting enjoyable and environmentally friendly cruises.

The mobile harbour crane: a new, state-of-the-art tool for developing the cruise industry

The cruise industry continues its positive momentum, with nearly 460,000 passengers passing through HAROPA PORT in 2023 – an increase of 53 per cent compared with 2022.

This growth is set to continue in 2024 thanks to the redevelopment project at the Pointe de Floride, which aims to accommodate nearly 13,500 passengers a day smoothly and comfortably across the three future terminals in Le Havre.

In 2021, HAROPA PORT decided to acquire three new harbour cranes to install passenger access facilities to ships and ensure the provisioning of cruise ships, replacing two old CAILLARD cranes dating from 1964. The investment amounts to 8 million euros.

Ordered from the Italian company ITALGRU, this new, latest-generation mobile crane with a capacity of 20 tonnes will initially be deployed on the Pierre Callet quay, before being able to operate on the Pierre Callet, Roger Meunier and Joannès Couvert once the cruise terminal development works have been completed.

Teams from HAROPA PORT will carry out functional checks on this new crane prior to its transport, as well as the statutory tests. Training for the operating and maintenance staff will be organised before it is due to enter service in July.

Following the new 22-metre gangways, which have been in service for a year, the arrival of this crane marks a further step in the renewal of the terminal’s equipment to improve passenger comfort.

The two other electric rail-mounted cranes, expected in the first half of 2025, will be positioned along the Pierre Callet and Roger Meunier quays.

“I am delighted with the arrival of the mobile harbour crane at Pointe de Floride. This machine, operated by port staff, will work on all three quays to install ship access equipment and to refuel cruise ships. Work on the cruise terminal is continuing, and this state-of-the-art piece of equipment meets the standards of comfort and reliability that HAROPA PORT has set for itself in terms of accommodating cruise operations,” emphasises Florian Weyer, Deputy Managing Director of HAROPA PORT Le Havre.

Source: HAROPA press release, 10 July 2024 / Photo: Courtesy of HAROPA PORT