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Marseilles Authority News

03 Apr 2008

Marseilles Confirms Development Link

A development partnership including the Port of Marseilles Authority (PMA) has outlined plans for further expansion of inland waterways traffic following 60% growth in five years. The latest objectives, focusing on container and dry bulk trades for the period 2008-2012, maintain a co-operation agreement signed in 2002 by the port, waterways authority Voies Navigables de France and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhone (CNR) covering 550km of waterways in the Rhone-Saone corridor. In the first five years of the initiative, total cargo volumes for containers, oil products and dry/liquid bulks rose from 1.8 to 2.7million tonnes, giving the waterways a 5.34% share of hinterland traffic compared with 3.65% in 2002.

08 Feb 2008

Marseilles Launches Lease Offer for Super Yacht Repairs

The Port of Marseilles Authority has launched a call for tenders for the lease of drydock No 1 and part of wet dock No 7 with the aim of expanding its repair facilities for super yachts. The facilities, which include yard areas and workshops, are aimed at the thriving market for super yachts ranging from 80-120 metres long. Similar deals were concluded with ITM in 2001 - for docks 3, 4, 5 and 6 - and with Sud Moteurs in 2005 for dock 2 and part of berth 7. The remaining part of berth 7 now up for tender is 104m long and 23m wide. Dock 1 is 171m long, 19.75m wide and has a workshop of 1100sq m as well as a 1950sq m yard. The port authority says the operator will be able to offer services to other types of vessels compatible with the dock's dimensions.

08 Feb 2008

Oil Sector Growth Prompts Marseilles-Fos Investments

Oiltanking Mediaco Marseille has confirmed plans to construct $294.5m refined products depot at the Port of Marseilles Authority’s Fos oil terminal. With a first phase due on stream in 2010, the 800,00 cu m facility offers additional throughput potential of six million tons a year at Marseilles-Fos – already the world’s third biggest petroleum port – reinforcing its Mediterranean hub role in refined products trades. The partners in the new company are Oiltanking, a subsidiary of Hamburg’s Marquard & Bahls, and Marseilles-based Mediaco. Oiltanking is said to be the world’s second largest independent tank farm operator, with 73 storage terminals in 21 countries…

25 Jan 2008

PMA Posts Freight and Passenger Records

The Port of Marseilles Authority (PMA) has briefed unions and staff on government plans for the ‘re-launch’ of French ports - as required by a timetable for local consultations at each port before parliament considers the legal framework this spring. PMA director-general Guy Janin outlined the aims and procedure this week at press conferences in Marseilles and Paris detailing the port’s 2007 results, which set new records for general cargo – including containers – and passenger volumes. Janin confirmed that, following a government announcement on January 15, the port had held initial meetings to inform personnel of the broad proposals…

20 Nov 2007

Port of Marseilles Sets up Simulator Training

The Port of Marseilles Authority has set up a simulator-based international training center in Fos for crane and equipment operators handling cargo such as containers and dry bulks. Responding to internal and external demand for competence training, the facility is currently focused on initial and refresher courses for PMA personnel but will be available to outside clients from next February. Training is largely based on a $2.3m latest generation simulator developed in association with Global-SIM. Featuring eight projectors, a 7-meter screen and an operator’s cabin, the system uses 3D images to replicate working scenarios for various equipment, weather conditions, vessel types and incidents.

22 Oct 2007

Mixed Results for Marseilles

Despite increases in general cargo and liquid bulks, January-September throughput at leading French cargo port Marseilles-Fos slipped to 72.03 million tonnes – down 2.7% on the first nine months last year - due to lower oil and dry bulk volumes. General cargo rose 6% to 13.05MT, led by an 8.4% increase in container tonnage to 7.55MT on the back of Far East imports. Ro-ro traffic contributed 3.3MT (+5.6%) while conventional trades were down 0.9% on 2.2MT. In unit terms, box traffic grew 4.8% to 744,000 teu. Petro-chemicals demand saw liquid bulks throughput improve 10.8% on 2.56MT but reduced steel industry demand prompted a 15.7% fall in dry bulks to 10.35MT. The oil sector experienced contrasting fortunes to finish 2.3% down at 46.07MT.

30 Nov 2005

Port of Marseilles Authority Names New Director-General

Guy Janin has been named the new director-general of the Port of Marseilles Authority. Janin, 58, has been head of the inland waterways authority Voies Navigables de France (VNF) since 2004. His nomination by the French minister of transport and maritime affairs was approved at a port board meeting on November 24 and is due to be formally ratified at a government cabinet meeting. Predecessor Eric Brassart, 56, stepped down in October following a sympathy strike by the port’s CGT union members opposing plans to privatize State ferry operator SNCM. The government marked his departure with praise for the port’s growth during his eight-year tenure and stressed that he is to be assigned to new tasks.