Marseilles seeks drydock bids

The Marseilles Fos port authority is seeking bids from repair specialists with recent experience of handling high added value ships such as car ferries, cruise vessels and LNG carriers.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have a workforce of appropriate size and quality, capital of more than €200,000 and annual turnover of at least €15m. In return the port is offering a 15-year concession that also covers offices, workshops and two afloat repair quays with a total length of 450mtr.

The winning bid is due to be confirmed early next year.

Meanwhile the drydocks will be made available to occasional users such as sub-contractors or shipowners with technical control capacity.

Cruise traffic in the first five months of 2009 rose 19% compared to last year to 158,000 passengers.