Le Havre Authority News

France-based Port Community System operator SOGET, in close collaboration with French customs, port authorities, ferry companies and road hauliers, will offer an integrated e-freight corridor based on a digitalized anticipation of information flows related to cross-Channel goods."Cross-channel RO-RO traffic of trucks and its logistics’ fluidity in ports are crucial matters for the competitiveness of the Great-Britain - Europe corridor. With 5 million trucks on the coastal border territory, the current port infrastructure cannot deal with a new logistics border," said a press release from the Le Havre headquartered public-private partnership between the Port Community of Le Havre…

Jean-Marc Lacave, Executive Director of the Port of Le Havre Authority, has confirmed reports that two U.S. Customs agents are scheduled to arrive at the port in September 2002, making Le Havre the first European port to accept U.S. personnel under the program, Contrainer Sectuity Initiative, to work closely with French Customs agents. There will be a reciprocal arrangement for French Customs officials to be stationed in a U.S. port. Other European ports are in discussions to participate in the program.

The Port of Le Havre Authority is ready to accept a team of U.S. Customs inspectors working closely with French Customs officers under an agreement between the French and United States Governments that makes France’s most important port for container traffic part of the Container Security Initiative (CSI) of U.S. Customs. The agreement was announced today in Europe by Robert Bonner, Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, and Alain Cadiou, Director General of French Customs and Excise Service. The CSI is designed to enhance the security of global maritime shipping. “Security measures are of major concern to the Port of Le Havre and we are seeking to harmonize our efforts with other European ports,” said Jean-Marc Lacave, Executive Director of the Port of Le Havre Authority.

The company SETO has ordered three giant new container gantry cranes from the Chinese group ZPMC to be installed at the future MSC/TN terminal at Port 2000, the new container facility under construction at the Port of Le Havre. SETO is a partnership between the shipping line Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and stevedoring company Terminaux de Normandie (TN), created to secure the necessary investment for shipping development at Le Havre. According to a company statement, SETO's investments to date for straddle carriers, mobile cranes and gantry cranes have surpassed ?32 million (US$31.3 million). SETO has also taken options on the purchase of seven additional cranes.

A strong flow of container traffic at the Port of Le Havre in 2002 was responsible for a new record of 20 million metric tons (MT) in the category of general cargo for both import and export, an increase of more than 2 MT from 2001, according to the preliminary results for 2002 released by the port authority. Container tonnage increased to 16.8 MT, up 15.1 percent from 2001. Le Havre handled 1.72 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2002 – nearly 200,000 more than the previous year. Monthly container records were broken three times in March, July and November of 2002. “We are gratified that our growth rate for containers…