Realising opportunity
Deep sea commercial port
Port-La Nouvelle
EPort-La Nouvelle is a French port in the Mediterranean that is transforming itself into a major port for the energy transition.
A new deep-sea infrastructure is currently under construction. It will increase the existing traffic and expand into new activities like those related to marine renewables, hydrogen production and low-carbon logistics. The port will expand from 60 to 210 hectares and water depth will reach 16 m to accommodate ships up to 80,000 dead-weight tonnes.
Port Governance
Indeed, the Port is owned by the Region Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée, second largest region in France.
EThe Region has entrusted the port governance to the SEMOP (a semi-public company). The SEMOP brings together the public actors (49%) such as the Region Occitanie and the Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts) with Nou Vela, a group of private shareholders (51%). This organization is a new model of public/private governance in France.
The Nou Vela consortium consists of DEME CONCESSIONS (European operator of maritime and port concessions), EUROPORTS (group of terminal operators and maritime services provider), PMV (investment fund of the Flemish Region), QAIR (independent producer of renewable electricity with headquarter in Occitanie) and the AUDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
This “business” orientation of the port will guarantee the quality of service and will respond to new logistics requirements. It is based on trust and long-lasting relationships.
BFrance’s 3rd largest Mediterranean port
B15th Metropolitan Port (out of 30 maritime ports)
BVersatility port activities
BNew deep-sea infrastructure (water depth 16 m)
BNew terminals (+ 1,700 m of quay length)
BCenter of Renewable Energies
BOffshore floating wind turbine assembly site
BHeavy Lift quay of 250 m (15 t/m2)
BHydrogen Production Plant
BRail distribution capacity
BAccess to the A9 motorway in 10 mins
BLogistics Zone (land available)
New deep-sea commercial port
EThe need for a new deep-sea port is to operate larger vessels, increase storage areas, develop specialized terminals and offer optimized logistics. The new infrastructure will help host new activities, including emerging industries related to the energy transition.
Port-La Nouvelle is the only Mediterranean port with dedicated facilities to build and assemble the offshore floating windmills so near the best windy location in the western Mediterranean. The Port thus takes up the challenge of decarbonization and expects to be a major port for hydrogen flows in the Mediterranean. Already, an hydrogen production plant is currently under construction (Company Hyd’Occ).
Investments in the new infrastructure amount to more than €600 million.
The port will increase from 60 to 210 hectares. The water depth will change from 8.60 m to 16 m to operate ocean-going vessels up to 60 to 80,000 deadweight tonnes.
Furthemore, Port-La Nouvelle is the only with 100 hectares of land available between Marseilles and Barcelona. It is a lever for creating activities and jobs both in the construction industry and for the port activities that will develop. This economic opportunity for the industries is constructed in complement with other regional ports.
EThe area dedicated to the floating offshore wind turbine industry has been delivered in 2021 for 7 hectares and will be extended to 40 hectares. The first assemblies of floats have started. It will continue in 2025 (pilot farms EOLMED and EFGL).
EThe first dry bulk terminals and the first berth for large tankers will be operational in 2026. A second phase of construction will then be launched to complete these primary infrastructures.
Guard Station 24/24
+33 (0) 4 68 48 73 39
postedegarde@pln-port.com
Technical Management
+33 (0) 4 68 48 01 56
roman.stega@pln-port.com
Projects & development Management
+33 (0) 4 68 48 94 84
alexandre.grausi@pln-port.com