Port of Le Havre expanding ro/ro center

The Port of Le Havre, Europe’s fourth largest port, has begun construction to extend the quay at its Ro/Ro Center to meet growing numbers of new vehicles transiting the port. Some 443,000 vehicles transited the port in 2000 compared with 340,000 in 1999.
The extension project is part of a five-year development plan designed to complement the Port’s new container facility. Le Havre will handle an estimated 2.5 million TEUs of container traffic by 2005.

The extension will add 1,247 feet of quay and four acres of back-up area at the site. Upgrading of the center will be completed during the second quarter of 2002 at a cost of around U.S. $13.1 million.

“The extension and improvements at out Ro/Ro Center will permit Le Havre to maintain a superior quality of service for customers in this important segment of our business,” said Jean-Marc Laclave, executive director, Port of Le Havre Authority.

New rail sidings, which will allow reception of complete trains of 2,460 feet, will be added at the new quay. In addition, work started last November on a new 32-acre back-up area for storing light vehicles. The Ro/Ro Center is directly connected to the Ocean terminal rail complex.

On completion, the Ro/Ro Center will consist of 148 acres of surface area inside the center and another 20 acres situated to the north of Bougainville Quay. There will be four berths for vessels from 328 feet to more than 384 feet in length. One berth will be dedicated to river barges.

In September 2000, the CAT Group, a subsidiary of French auto maker Renault, selected Le Havre as its transit hub for vehicles entering and leaving Spain.