Following the Coronavirus outbreak and the measures taken by all sectors of the shipping industry, France issued details concerning French ports and how they deal with the situation. Also,the live map launched to provide a clear picture of where the new virus has been detected, as well as the number of fatalities shows today, February 13, that the coronavirus has cost the lives of 1,369 people, while confirmed cases exceed 60,000.
Authorities in Calais are pressing the French government to establish a duty-free zone for British shoppers that would cover the entire port town in northern France, in case a future trade deal between the UK and the EU returns to trade tariffs.
HAROPA, the port complex of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, saw a 5% drop in maritime traffic in 2019, with a total of 90 million tonnes of maritime traffic over the year. However, the bulk and container sectors grew by 13% marking the best figure since 1992.
French ports are blocked as workers protest, aiming to make President Emmanuel Macron to scrap a planned pension overhaul. Namely, ferry services were disrupted, while some bulk carriers were kept at anchor.
The French Navy’s maritime search and rescue centre assisted the medevac of a crewmember onboard the CMA CGM Otello vessel, after an eye injury, and transferred them to a maritime medical consultation centre.
On January 1st, the French Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS) Gris-Nez informed that it detected an allegedly “erratic” movement from the bulk carrier Moezelborg southwest of Boulogne. As the center said, the bulker was approaching “dangerously close” to a sandbank in the Strait of Dover traffic separation scheme.
The French port of Le Havre issued a tender to begin reinforcement works on the Hermann du Pasquier quay, in line with its offshore wind reception, including a roll on/roll off (RoRo) platform, as well as the execution studies.
Following the multiple strikes taking place in French ports, MSC container shipping company announced it is implementing its contingency plans to re-route container ships away from the ports when necessary, Reuters reports.
The Marseilles Commercial Court recently examined two takeover offers for OSV operator Bourbon Maritime and Bourbon Corporation company. The first offer was from the French company Société Phocéenne de Participation, while the second one came from the de Chateauvieux on behalf of JS & Co.
On 9 December the classification society Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore officially announced its join in the “Coalition for Maritime Environmental and Energy Transition” as a founding partner. The singing ceremony was held during the leading annual gathering for the French maritime community, known as Assises de l’Economie de la Mer.
