End of the Nautical Phase of Work on the Liquid Cargo Berth Extension

The extension work launched this year will make it possible to relieve the pressure on the Montoir de Bretagne liquid cargo berth, which in the future will be able to receive two vessels at the same time.  This new configuration will facilitate the activities of the industrial firms that use the liquid cargo berth, and promises as of now new possible developments.

Numerous products of very different types transit the facility, both inbound and outbound, such as rapeseed oil, molasses, sand, ammonia, sulphuric or phosphoric acid, and biodiesel… Built in the 1970s, the berth had reached saturation point. A situation that sometimes made it necessary to establish an order of priority for loading or unloading operations, meaning that other vessels were required to wait.

After some consideration, Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port decided to create two new landing stages so as to anticipate the emergence of certain traffic areas. The energy transition process should indeed multiply the requirements for new fuels such as hydrogen, e-methanol or ammonia.

End of the Nautical Phase of WorkCommenced in March, the nautical phase of work on the new liquid cargo berth has now been completed. In order to maintain business continuity during this period, the work took place one week in two, with the other week being reserved for vessel movements. The operations were carried out by VINCI Maritime and Inland Waterway Construction. Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port’s production and maintenance workshops were also pressed into service for the manufacture of the inshore pilots’ gangways.

The work project will continue until September, so as to complete the construction work on the landing stages on which is to be installed the handling equipment of the berth’s users. This will be followed by the installation of the different supply networks and by the building of a new parking area. The new facility will be fully operational early next year.

When the work project is completed, the new berthing facility will be 250 metres long and able to receive vessels measuring 200 metres in length and with a displacement of up to 60 000 tonnes, and will also be capable of receiving two bulk carriers simultaneously.

Contacts at Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port -  Gaël Seyer and Marc Labegorre