french national port strategy

FRENCH NATIONAL PORT STRATEGY

www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr

Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy

AMBITION p. 5

LOGISTICS p. 6

INDUSTRY p. 8

DEVELOPMENT p. 10

IMPLEMENTATION p. 12

PROJECTS ALREADY UNDER WAY p. 14


With the port strategy, the French government is asserting its ambition to have France play a leading role in international trade as a European entry point or hub and to con-tribute to the country's industrial and economic development.

After a period of instability following the implementation of the 2008 port reform, French ports have once more become reliable. The major seaports now have the means of competing with other leading European ports. Their productivity has improved and they now have a better image among shipowners. Container traffic is on the increase, with an annual growth of 5% in 2012.

Now more than ever, ports need to be economic actors that go beyond the limits of their country's borders: hinterland, cooperation between coastlines and routes, etc.

At the interface of maritime routes and multimodal transport networks, French ports are at the heart of European logistics supply chains. They are destined to accommo-date activities essential to growth in the logistics sector and contribute to industrial development, particularly in the energy sector and promising industrial sectors. With this port strategy, the government is also adopting a facilitative approach in all areas: technical, legal, institutional, etc.

The strategy does not apply to overseas ports in its entirety because their issues are specific and require solutions adapted to the local context.

2008Port reform

2013Port strategy

PORTS ECONOMIC ACTORS WITH MULTIPLE STRENGTHS

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360 millionFrance is the 5th largest European port, with over 360 million tonnes of freight and 30 million passengers.

11 million Its maritime area is the 2 nd largest in the world behind the United States, covering 11 million km 2.

35,000 The land occupied by major French seaports is estimated at 35,000 ha.

5th and 6th Marseille and Le Havre are ranked 5th and 6th in Europe in terms of total volume of goods handled. Marseille is the 3rd largest oil port in the world, Le Havre the 10 th largest container port in Europe, and the port of Rouen is Europe's number one grain port.

More than 300,000 All maritime activity (fleet, ports, fishing, naval industry, government, research, etc.), excluding coastal tourism, directly generates more than 300,000 local jobs.

40,000 Direct jobs in the seven large metropolitan seaports are held by nearly 40,000 people.

90,000 Industrial activities employ over 90,000 people in ports.

100,000 Marseille, Le Havre and Dunkirk generate over 100,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.

4th Haropa, the port group of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, is the 4th largest European port group and is the first implementation of cooperation between French ports on a major route.


High-speed railway line

Freight oriented network

Non-electrified network

Electrified network

Motorway or similar network

Other national road network

AMBITION OF THE PORT STRATEGY

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Flow of maritime goods transport through French ports

Cooperation by route

Sector of cooperation by coastline

Major seaports and decentralised ports

Other seaports and river ports

Wide navigable waterway

Other regional network route

Other navigable waterway

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LOGISTICSTo improve their appeal and create customer and operator loyalty, French ports need to become "architects" of sea and land logistics solutions, in a hinterland extended to the European level.

They aim to position themselves as coordinators that demonstrate high added value in developing integrated, economically competitive and sustainable supply chains, and which promote large volumes.


Priority measures

LOGISTICS

Goals � Propose and implement reliable and

competitive transport services

� Ensure large volume modes are more competitive and work towards a modal shift

� Ensure fluidity of port transit for goods

� Win market share through knowledge of the target hinterlands

Moving from infrastructure management to logistics solutions architect

Positioned as "architects", ports become prime contractors for sea and land logistics solutions. To meet the needs of cus-tomers and operators, together with various stakeholders, they design logistics solutions and set performance targets.

They can join forces to make the best use of the French port network and propose relevant global land and/or sea logistics solutions.

Cooperation between ports also covers exploration, informa-tion exchange, including commercial information, without affecting competition between ports, sharing of resources, or establishment of formal partnerships.

This involves:

• the government integrating improvement of reliability of and modernisation of services to ports into RFF (railroad infrastructures manager) and VNF (inland waterways infra-structures manager) strategic projects.The government ensures that improvements to reliability and modernisation of rail and river services to ports are integrated into RFF and VNF strategic projects, which have a key role in meeting the goal of developing the large vol-ume modes;

• ports reserving slots that meet their customers' specific rail freight needs on strategic logistics routes.

Ports define their strategic logistics routes as precisely as possible. As authorised applicants, they negotiate the addi-tional freight capacity they need with RFF;

• the government and ports developing and introducing simplified procedures.The government and ports work together to identify, develop and implement simplified administrative proce-dures into operations, which would take into account cus-tomer expectations and current practices as compared with other European ports;

• the government and ports facilitating access to port resources for all users.The government ensures reliability and performance of the whole port computer network. Ports coordinate the devel-opment of computer services tailored to the needs of the various users. They ensure that the information contained in the resources is accessible to all port stakeholders.

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INDUSTRYPort areas are true cornerstones of the country's industrial development. French ports confirm their calling as ideal locations for industrial and economic activities that generate maritime traffic.

Supplying land that is suited to the changing needs of the industry is at the heart of their strategy to consolidate their position and contribute to the vitality of the national industrial base.


Priority measures

INDUSTRY

Goals � Have a forward-looking action plan to

accommodate and develop industrial activities that generate maritime traffic

� Establish competitive processes to introduce new industries to port areas

Integrating the port system into industrial sectors

The government and ports are stakeholders in the strate-gic planning of promising sectors that are suited to a port location and/or able to generate maritime traffic, along with green energy or eco-industry.

To do this, ports could draw on partnerships with the aca-demic community, agencies specialised in research and development and competitiveness clusters, to allow indus-trial customers to benefit from an innovative local base.

Central to this strategy is the ability of ports to offer attrac-tive pieces of land to companies looking for suitable sites.

Reducing processing times for approval procedures and planning applications

The government makes every effort to reduce processing times for planning applications.

Where possible, ports anticipate the steps involved in accom-modating an activity to reduce application approval times.

Being in a position to be able to guide the development of industrial activities

Ports define areas to accommodate industry. Before imple-menting projects to attract new industries, ports assess their various sites, identifying those with environmental constraints and industrial incompatibilities in terms of tech-nological risks.

Ports are thus able to determine the feasibility of an indus-try's planning project earlier and more accurately, and to reduce the time necessary for the impact assessment.

Analysing current regulations to better advise industries wishing to establish sites

To facilitate the establishment of industries in their areas, ports owe it to clients likely to establish sites on their prem-ises to take on an expert advisory role regarding French development and environmental regulations.

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DEVELOPMENTFrench ports have a new role to play based on an integrated approach, that of developer and manager of all their sites – industrial port, logistics, natural, urban – in liaison with the regions on which they rely.

They have specific responsibilities towards their natural sites, which they usually fulfil in partnership, and ensure that the issue is addressed at the earliest possible stage of their development strategy.


Priority measures

DEVELOPMENT

Goals � Have overall development plans for each

port's sites, as part of a forward-looking approach that is shared by the various stakeholders

� Confirm the positioning of French ports in their role as developer and integrated manager of logistics, industrial and natural sites

� Optimise the financial and heritage value of ports' land assets

Having a long-term vision of development issues for each port

Ports put forward a long-term vision for development of their sites by including forward-looking elements in the progress of industrial and economic activities.

Drawing up a development plan for each port in partnership with local authorities

In consultation with the various stakeholders, ports draw up a long-term development plan for their sites. They describe current uses of the various port sites and the different medium- and long-term development scenarios envisaged. The development plan includes a comprehensive scheme for managing and developing sensitive sites of the port area; it also covers the interface with the city.

Identifying drivers that would facilitate implementation of development projects while respecting sustainable development

Ports and the government identify bottlenecks and delays in planning procedures, taking into account the associated economic, environmental and social issues. All drivers facil-itating the implementation of development projects are shared with stakeholders who are empowered to carry out the measures.

Managing developed and natural sites

Ports position themselves as managers of the sites for which they are responsible. On each of these sites, the ports act as prime contractors, coordinating with other stakeholders.

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IMPLEMENTATION


Mobilising manpower and resources

Linking port strategy to national and local policies

Attracting, developing and promoting talent

Promoting social dialogue and improving personal safety for better reliability of ports

Enhancing security commitments in ports

Focusing investments on projects that will

generate growth, jobs and innovation for ports

Strengthening the influence of the French port system with European authorities

Enhancing the branding of French ports

IMPLEMENTATION

Local and regional authorities � Local policies

Coordination of ports (knowl-edge of the market, promotion, grouping of ports, etc.)

Government support for the national strategy

FRENCH PORT STRATEGYDefines the ambition and resulting strategic goals

(for ports and nationwide)

Government measures

Government-port contract

Implementation of the national

strategy

National policies � Energy

� Employment

� Industry

� Economy

� Environment

� Land development

Link with

the national strategy

Coordinated port

strategy

Decentralised ports Major seaportsStrategic projects

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Logistics

Developing cooperation between coastlines and routes between major seaports, decentralised ports and inland ports

In Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Dunkirk major seaport and local authorities are signing an agreement to strengthen cooperation between the ports of the Opal coast on the LNG project.

On the Seine route, Haropa is integrating the decentralised seaports of Caen and Cherbourg and establishing partnerships with the inland ports of Lyon, Strasbourg and Nogent-sur-Seine.

On the Atlantic coast, La Rochelle major seaport is extending its local rail operator (OFP) to Nantes-Saint-Nazaire major seaport.

Promoting framework agreement contracts between major seaports and RFF

Haropa and RFF are signing a framework agreement to secure a number of slots and quality of service for freight on the Le Havre-Paris route.

Marseille major seaport and RFF are signing a framework agreement to secure a number of slots and quality of service for freight on the right bank of the Rhône.

Improving multimodal services

The government is focusing on improving services for all transport modes in the ports' hinterland, following the example of the Paris-Le Havre link (via the Serqueux-Gisors route).

Establishing an 80 km logistics service between Lille, Dourges and Dunkirk

Dunkirk major seaport is proposing a link made up of river shuttle ser-vices between three sites. This would create continuity in port services between the three sites, providing customers with a strong incentive to make a modal shift towards river transport. Dunkirk major seaport plans to implement this project in partnership with the urban commu-nity of Dunkirk and surrounding region, with a target annual capacity of 15,000 TEU and on a twice weekly basis.

Reducing the costs associated with charging VAT

The government is setting up a working group involving customs, ports, civil aviation, freight forwarders and shippers to examine the measures with a view to simplifying the system for importers. As such, the implementation of self-assessment will be examined.

PROJECTSALREADYUNDER WAY


Dematerialising using the single window system AP+ and customs revenue

The government and ports are introducing the single port window system, while relying on existing information sys-tems.

Ports are introducing paperless goods monitoring systems, sharing access along routes and opening them up to trans-port users.

The government is making an effort to streamline and dema-terialise the collection of port dues.

Circulating communications materials in economic missions of French embassies abroad

A document promoting French ports and the port strategy will be developed for economic missions.

Industry

Improving industrial and logistics site processes in seaports for industrialisation purposes

The government commissioned the General Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development and the General Council for the Economy, Industry, Energy and Technology to put forward regulations, procedures and organisational measures to facilitate the mobilisation of land to develop logistics and industrial sites, based on an evaluation of the main factors to be taken into account in the implementation of port development projects.

Developing an energy and waste plan and taking steps towards integration for neighbouring districts of the port authority of Strasbourg

The port authority of Strasbourg has begun work on its energy and heating networks to develop district heating.

The steps towards integration aim to improve the image of the port (acceptability of industrial activities) and to high-light the potential for job creation in the port area.

Management planning allows the port to anticipate employ-ment needs and guide research.

Developing yacht refitting in Bordeaux major seaport.

PROJECTS ALREADY UNDER WAY

Bordeaux major seaport is developing new industrial activ-ities that use port facilities, such as ship dismantling and yacht refitting in the four dry docking areas.

Development

Building a new logistics area in Achéres

At the request of the government, Ports de Paris continues to study the proposed multimodal port facility (river, rail and road), Seine-Métropole Port, in partnership with local authorities, associations and the business community, to build a new logistics area at the confluence of the Seine and Oise rivers.

Developing a master plan for natural heritage

As part of a concerted effort, ports are developing a port planning tool for identifying wildlife corridors and biodi-versity links (green and blue belts), facilitating interaction between city and port and translating the port's objectives for sustainable development into feasible projects, following the schemes carried out in Dunkirk, Marseille and jointly by Le Havre and Rouen.

Promoting sustainable development in the major seaports

Using the review of the major seaports' strategic projects to strengthen the current balanced and sustainable approach to managing port areas in a coordinated way, while devel-oping partnerships necessary to managing natural sites in the long term.

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Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development

and EnergyGeneral Directorate for infrastructure,

transport and the sea92 055 La Défense cedex

Tel. 33 (0)1 40 81 21 22

www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr

french national port strategy

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