THE French ports of Strasbourg (PAS) and Le Havre (HAROPA) have signed a cooperation agreement in rail, river and sea transport as well innovation and promotional activities
THE French ports of Strasbourg (PAS) and Le Havre (HAROPA) have signed a cooperation agreement in rail, river and sea transport as well innovation and promotional activities.
Within the rail sector, PAS and HAROPA aim to create a scheduled and high-performance rail services to aid in diversifying regional seaports and facilitate cargo export by Rhine companies.
The port will seek to reduce congestion from mega containerships, which HAROPA has agreed to alleviate via rail services towards the east.
The two ports pledged to focus on the challenges to further connections to inland waterways, develop new rail services, deploying digital innovation to optimise cargo flows.
The two entities will also connect via HAROPA's EIG (Economic Interest Group), which has encompassed the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris since 2012.
PAS is also developing a new container terminal in Lauterbourg, slated for opening in the summer of 2018.
'Together, we have to play a major part within the trans-European transport network by working on the development of the hinterlands, digitisation and visibility,' said HAROPA executive Herve Martel.
'With this partnership we are building a bridge between the Seine corridor and the Rhine valley,' said Mr Martel.
Said EIG deputy director Antoine Berbain: 'The partnership with Strasbourg will allow for connecting two port systems at the leading edge of innovation, whether it is as regards port governance, environmental policy or logistics.'
