Circular City Ports - Workbook 1, Circular initiatives in the Delta
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<strong>City</strong>-port context of Le Havre<br />
Open seaport along <strong>in</strong>dustrialised corridor<br />
93<br />
1 Description of location <strong>in</strong> relation to o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
(sea/) ports<br />
The port of Le Havre is part of a HAROPA port alliance<br />
with <strong>the</strong> ports of Rouen and Paris located on<br />
<strong>the</strong> Se<strong>in</strong>e axis. Located at <strong>the</strong> mouth of <strong>the</strong> river, it<br />
enjoys a geographical position that makes it a strategic<br />
hub for <strong>in</strong>ternational trade, as it is located between<br />
two global cities, London and Paris. It is also<br />
<strong>the</strong> first port of call <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Range, <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong><br />
commercial <strong>in</strong>terface between Europe and <strong>the</strong> rest<br />
of <strong>the</strong> world, and above all, it enjoys advantageous<br />
nautical conditions with 24/7 accessibility, without<br />
tidal or draught constra<strong>in</strong>ts. The port leads to<br />
<strong>the</strong> English Channel and is very close to <strong>the</strong> Atlantic<br />
Ocean, but bypasses <strong>the</strong> North Sea where <strong>the</strong>re<br />
are congested sea routes due to <strong>the</strong> presence of<br />
very important European ports such as Rotterdam.<br />
However, this advantageous location requires a better<br />
connection to European transport networks <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> h<strong>in</strong>terland, which is not currently <strong>the</strong> case: <strong>the</strong>re<br />
is <strong>the</strong>refore a first challenge for Le Havre to connect<br />
to this h<strong>in</strong>terland (88% of traffic is still carried by<br />
road).<br />
2 Description of current activities<br />
The port of Le Havre handles 60% of conta<strong>in</strong>er traffic<br />
and 35% of crude oil imports. The port of Le<br />
Havre is <strong>the</strong>refore a major maritime and logistical<br />
platform at all levels. In 2011, 58% of conta<strong>in</strong>er imports<br />
came from Asia. This <strong>in</strong>ternational recognition<br />
is reflected <strong>in</strong> major <strong>in</strong>vestments, particularly <strong>in</strong> its<br />
development zone, where major mult<strong>in</strong>ationals such<br />
as Total, Total-Petrochimicals, Chevron and Renault<br />
have set up operations, for a total of €1.5 billion <strong>in</strong>vested<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce 2008.<br />
3 Description demographic/socio-economic<br />
dynamics.<br />
The <strong>in</strong>dustrial activities carried out <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> port of Le<br />
Havre, are represent<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 22% of <strong>the</strong> city employment.<br />
The port is a hav<strong>in</strong>g a key role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> economic<br />
development of <strong>the</strong> region.<br />
4 Why, and <strong>in</strong> what way is circularity looked at?<br />
The shipp<strong>in</strong>g sector plays a prevail<strong>in</strong>g part <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
growth of develop<strong>in</strong>g countries. The port of Le<br />
Havre has to cope with <strong>the</strong> various challenges related<br />
to efficiency of <strong>the</strong> logistics cha<strong>in</strong>s, toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />
with cont<strong>in</strong>uous <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> new <strong>in</strong>frastructure.<br />
In this sense, Haropa, composed by <strong>the</strong> port<br />
of Le Havre and <strong>the</strong> French development agency, is<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g toward <strong>the</strong> development of maritime economy<br />
accompany<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> port actors though <strong>the</strong> upcom<strong>in</strong>g<br />
transition, with provision of know-how and<br />
new skills build<strong>in</strong>g. Haropa has developed a space<br />
of nearly 500 hectares available for conversion. The<br />
actors are supported by <strong>the</strong> port <strong>in</strong> sett<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able logistic systems.<br />
5 Who gives substance to this, which partnerships/programmes/<strong><strong>in</strong>itiatives</strong><br />
are made?<br />
The Haropa is one of <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> projects tak<strong>in</strong>g place<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> port of Le Havre, build<strong>in</strong>g up a wider system<br />
of susta<strong>in</strong>able logistics, supported by <strong>the</strong> local<br />
port authority and <strong>the</strong> French development agency.<br />
Interest<strong>in</strong>g is, <strong>in</strong> this case, <strong>the</strong> collaboration at <strong>the</strong><br />
local and supra level, <strong>in</strong> order to build new strategies<br />
<strong>in</strong> order to support <strong>the</strong> shift to a more susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
economy.<br />
6 Is <strong>the</strong>re already a discourse around cityports?<br />
(Yes/no) Who is beh<strong>in</strong>d it and what are <strong>the</strong> ambitions/motives?<br />
The development project “Quartiers Sud du Havre”,<br />
at <strong>the</strong> city-port border, is plac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> emphasis on<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terweav<strong>in</strong>g of urban and port functions, <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to create a real area of functional <strong>in</strong>teraction. it<br />
contributes to <strong>the</strong> concrete creation of a city-port<br />
<strong>in</strong>terface, as an urban objective around a functional<br />
triptych, between residential, recreational and university<br />
functions.