Last month, ports in the northeast of France, in the Hauts-de-France region, created a new association named Norlink Ports in order to promote their combined interests.
The association is made up of the Port of Dunkirk, CCI de région Hauts de France, the Straits Operations Company (SEPD), the Seine Nord Europe-Escaut joint docks association, and the CCIs of the ports of Lille, Grand Hainaut, the Oise, the Aisne, Amiens-Picardy, Artois and Côte d’Opale.
Norlink Ports is reportedly working on a strategy to highlight the potential of the region’s ports, to develop freight transport between the coastal and inland ports, and to promote logistical and alternative transport schemes to create jobs and add value in the region.
In addition, storage, packing, and other value-added services will be developed as Norlink Ports seeks to turn Hauts de France into a large trimodalspace.
The 2017 action plan of the Hauts-de-France ports association already includes the enlargement and opening of the Cargo Community System (CCS) of Dunkirk port to the various regional players.
Philippe Enjolras, president of the CCI de l'Oise, has been elected chairman of Norlink Ports, while Stéphane Raison, chairman of the port of Dunkirk, has been named vice-chairman.
