Investors in the development project, which will support the growth of cruise tourism expected in the coming years, presented more details this week in Le Havre.
Marketed as the gateway to Paris and Normandy, Le Havre is predicting 600,000 cruise passengers in 2030, compared to 420,000 passengers in 2018.
Three terminals, three ships a day
The new infrastructure development will enable Le Havre to accommodate three ships simultaneously and up to 13,500 passengers per day.
The project consists of three cruise terminals with a total area of 15,000sq mtr in the heart of a vast nine hectare space shared with the public.
The objective is to reconnect the Pointe de Floride with the city of Le Havre to encourage cruise passengers to visit the city and invite people from Le Havre to rediscover this port space, by creating a new place to live and walk at the mouth of the estuary.
Public interest group
A new entity, Le Havre Croisières public interest group (GIP), has been establish to promote Le Havre as a cruise destination, manage calls, welcome passengers and maintain relations with service providers.
By 2025, Le Havre will offer shore power for all cruise ships at berth.
The new terminals will have solar powered panels on the roof and use low-carbon materials for the construction. 10% of all supplies will arrive by river. Gardens and green spaces will be part of a long path leading into the city.
Of the €99m investment, the port will cover off €40m, including €20m provided by the state and one million by the Normandy region.
Le Havre Croisières will finance the remaining €59m of which Le Havre Seine Métropole and the Normandy region will each contribute €15m.
Ambitious project
Édouard Philippe, president of Le Havre Seine Métropole and president of GIP Le Havre Croisières, commented, ‘to welcome more cruise passengers, and therefore create more jobs and wealth in our territory, we are carrying out an ambitious project to develop the cruise port of tomorrow.’
Hervé Morin, president of the Normandy region added, ‘we are particularly proud to support Le Havre Croisières with €15m towards the project to develop Pointe de Floride as well as new terminals with the aim of raising the second busiest French cruise port after Marseille.’
Seine estuary
Florian Weyer added, ‘the new terminal at the head of the Seine estuary will reenergise the port.’
Work will start in autumn 2023 for delivery of terminals 2 and 3 in early 2025 and terminal 1 in autumn 2025.
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