On March 2, Ports of Normandy Authority (PNA)’s elected representatives officially launched large- scale extension works of the port of Cherbourg’s main roadstead, which will be a milestone in the history of the port’s development.
Due to the allocation of ALSTOM’s industrial unit for offshore wind activities on harbour land, and EDF’s assembly hub for the offshore wind farm in Courseulles-sur-Mer, the already available land to accommodate new activities has become scarce.
PNA has decided to undertake these extension works to be able to accommodate the tidal energy sector, as well as additional activities related to offshore wind turbines.
At the end of 2014, GDF/Alstom and EDF EN/DCNS won the call for expressions of interest for tidal turbine pilot farms. In this arena, the port of Cherbourg’s proximity to the Race of Alderney is a clear advantage.
In terms of offshore wind, the port relies on its assets to compete for new activities: foundations, cabling, assembling wind farms off the South coast of England and in France, etc. With this in mind, the PNA’s union committee has been considering, at EDF’s request, the possibility of creating a new heavy load quay north of the Quay des Flamands, in order to meet the demands of simultaneous processing of wind farms assembly in Courseulles-sur-Mer and Fecamp.
“The extension project’s 50 million euro funding is the result of a strong budgetary choice from the Basse- Normandie region and Manche department, along with key support from the French government and the European Union,” pointed out Laurent Beauvais, PNA’s chairman .
The quality and consistency of the project, together with its long-term effects on local growth and employment, have convinced the French government, the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to back up the project, said PNA in its press release.
Works will start mid-March. Scheduled to last 18 months, they will be managed by the company SODRACO, a subsidiary of the Belgian group Jan de Nul, associated with DTP Terrassements, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction.
Image: PNA