The Port of Le Havre is the first port of call for ocean-going vessels on the Northern European greater range and the last loading station on the major ocean maritime routes. It is located on the western edge of the range of Northern European ports. Le Havre is by far France's leading port for foreign trade, with 68 million tons of traffic, including 1,465,000 TEU containers.

As deep-water seaport, Le Havre can receive containerships of up to 14 meters draft and 6,000 TEU transport capacity in tidal dock. With no concerns about tide, channels, or locks, ships benefit from the outstanding nautical and safety conditions of the Port of Le Havre both day and night.The Port of Le Havre has two container terminals which taken as whole, provide 5,25 km of quayside - 200 ha of storage area - 21 gantry cranes.

The Total tonnage through the port of Le Havre in 2.000 (including bunkering and ship supplies) with 68.2 MT (Million tonnes), that is a 5.6 % rise compared to the year 1999 (64.4 MT).

Record figures were achieved for general cargo in which Le Havre still ranks first in France. They amounted to 17.1 MT (+ 5.8 %) and within this category, containers also attained a level never recorded before, to 13.8 MT (+ 7.5 %). It is useful to state that for containers, transhipments (2.7 MT) rose 16.5 %.

The Ministry of Transport has authorised the Port Autonome du Havre to undertake work for the extension of the Quai des Amériques. In keeping with the transitional programme of adaptation of the container terminals laid out by a working group comprised of representatives of the Port, the State, stevedoring companies and shipping lines, this undertaking consists in providing mentioned Quai with a 2nd berth for vessels of 6000 TEU and over.

The PORT 2000

project Port 2000 is an extension of the facilities of the port of Le Havre for container traffic intended to increase first of all its capacity and attractiveness to go with the sustained growth of external trade.

This phased project must allow to double the container trade through the port before the year 2010 and is designed to foster the use of the most competitive and least polluting means of connection which are feedering and the river and rail combined transport. As it fits in with sustainable development, Port 2000 also considers the preservation of the biological functions and wealth of the river Seine Estuary.

While enabling the port of Le Havre to introduce itself to shipping lines as a European base port for ocean-going shipping services, as a complement to main North-European ports, Port 2000 must also be the cornerstone of a European-sized logistics hub.

The regular increase of traffic carried on the Le Havre - Strasbourg railway in co-operation with "Le Havre Shuttles" and the CNC has enabled this service to be transformed into a direct shuttle service with three round trips per week. Indeed, with a volume level of 5.000 TEU at end May 2001, the rail container service Le Havre - Strasbourg shows an increase of 46% against the full first six months period of the year 2000.

For the year 2000 as regards inland carriage for containers in TEU (excluding transhipments), the breakdown gives: 12% for rail, 3% for inland waterway, and 85% for road transport. These market shares can be illustrated as follows:
Buenos Aires representative:

Nicole Chavet de Almira

PUERTO DE LE HAVRE

CHARCAS 4784 - Floor 3B

C1425BNT BUENOS AIRES

ARGENTINA

Tel: +54 11 4776 7075

Fax :+ 54 11 4776 7081

Email :artech@cvtci.com.ar