New member interview – Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port

The port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire lies on the Loire estuary, facing the Atlantic Ocean. For the flagships of French industry and businesses in the West of France region, it plays an important role in supply chains and national, European, and international shipping. As an industrial, energy, and commercial port, it is today a major player in the energy and ecological transition. Interview with Pascal Fréneau, Deputy CEO and Member of the Executive Board of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire Port. “In few words” AIVP - Can you briefly present your port to the members of our international network? Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port is one of the seven major seaports in continental France. Around 2,500 ships visit the port every year, representing total freight traffic in the region of 30 million tonnes. The port land stretches for 70 km along the Loire estuary, and covers some 2,622 hectares in total. That includes 1,077 hectares of natural spaces, 1,460 hectares occupied by port, logistics, and industrial activities, and a further 60 hectares of historic urban sites, mainly in the cities of Nantes and Saint-Nazaire. Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port is a important local player in sustainable development, working for the benefit of future generations. It is fully committed to the energy and ecological transition. Our strategy for the period 2021-2026 is built around three key objectives: successfully navigating the energy and ecological transition, consolidating the port’s role as a gateway to the West of France region, and promoting economic and social development in the Loire estuary area. In practice, and in order to mitigate the impending reduction in fossil fuels, this means activating three growth relays. The first involves developing services for bulk and various goods traffic, including containers and RoRo, for the benefit of businesses in the West of France region. The second entails making optimal use of port land, notably through real estate development projects in…