Pointe de Floride 2026: new era for the Port of Le Havre
Starting in 2022, the new partnership between Haropa Port and the urban area of Le Havre Seine Metropole led to the founding of a new company called GIP Le Havre Croisieres, aimed at revolutionizing the management of cruise terminals and developing new infrastructure at the Port of Le Havre.
Steven Protois, General Manager, and Valerie Conan, Cruise Director, presented the Pointe de Floride development project at Seatrade Global in Miami. This ambitious plan includes the construction of three state-of-the-art terminals and the installation of shore power facilities, known as OPS, at three docks dedicated to cruise ships.
CruiseCall in Le Havre_credit LHENT (FILEminimizer)
Le Havre beach_credit GIP Le Havre Croisières, Stephan (FILEminimizer)
The demolition of old hangars has already begun, with the goal of gradually introducing the new terminals. The buildings, designed to be energy-positive with the use of photovoltaic roofs, will be energy-efficient operations with low carbon emission construction processes, marking a significant step towards sustainability.
Terminals 2 and 3, with respective capacities of 6,000 and 1,000 passengers, located at Quai Pierre Callet and Quai Joannes Couvert, will be combined and renovated, ready for use by September 2025. Terminal 1, with a capacity of 3,500 passengers, located at Quai Roger Meunier, will be completed by January 2026.
Cruise terminal 12, Quay Pierre Callet_credit GIP Le Havre Croisières, Parmentier (1)
Le Havre port_credit GIP Le Havre Croisières, Parmentier (FILEminimizer)
During and outside the cruise season, dock availability is already secured for confirmed bookings. Shore power will be available at all three docks, with a power capacity of 10MW each. This energy source consists of 60% nuclear, 29% renewable, and 6% gas, using the same system as the port of Kiel.
The new passenger boarding bridges will feature an intermediate podium to reduce the slope caused by Le Havre’s extreme tides. The 9-hectare Pointe de Floride site offers a panoramic view of the port and the city center’s coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Landscaped paths and a rooftop terrace on Terminal 1 will allow passengers and residents to enjoy this beautiful panorama.
The total investment of 100 million euros will be financed by Haropa and GIP Le Havre Croisieres, with contributions from the Le Havre Seine Metropole metropolitan area and the Normandy region. Tourist attractions are also continuously updated. For instance, “Un Été au Havre” transforms the city into an open-air contemporary art gallery during the summer, inviting artists to create new works of art to display in public spaces. Additionally, a new contemporary art gallery will open towards the end of 2025.
Honfleur, Le Havre_credit CSM 2013 (FILEminimizer)
City Hall Le Havre_credit LHENT (FILEminimizer)
This year, the port expects 162 calls, including 54 partial turnarounds, for a total of 490,000 passengers. With the new developments, the port will have a daily capacity of 13,500 passengers, including 6,000 turnarounds at Terminals 2 and 3 and 500 at Terminal 1, with a projected total of 600,000 passengers by 2030.
The Port of Le Havre looks to the future with optimism and enthusiasm, thanks to investments and innovations aimed at enhancing passenger experience and promoting strong environmental sustainability.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Port of Le Havre on Cruising Journal.