Port of Calais#Expansion

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox Port

| name = Port of Calais

| image = File:Zone portuaire calais phare.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Pictured in 2008

| country = France

| location = Calais

| coordinates =

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| passengertraffic = 10,863,262{{cite web | url=http://www.doverport.co.uk/about/performance/ | title=About/Performance | publisher=Port of Dover | access-date=2018-07-10}} (2019)

| blankstatstitle1 = Annual turnover

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| website = {{URL|https://www.portboulognecalais.fr/en/}}

}}

File:Engeland Calais Pride of Kent 12-10-2011 8-09-41.png

File:DFDS-Fähre Calais Seaways.jpg

The Port of Calais in northern France{{cite web|url=http://www.calais-port.fr/|title=Port Boulogne Calais : Ferry pour l'Angleterre|website=www.calais-port.fr}} is the country's fourth largest port and the largest for passenger traffic. It accounts for more than a third of economic activity in the town of Calais.

Background

The Port of Calais was the first cable ship port in Europe and is the fourth largest port in France and the largest for passenger traffic.

After the Treaty of Le Touquet was signed by France and the UK on 4 February 2003, juxtaposed controls were established in the port.{{cite web|title=Approbation du traité entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord relatif à la mise en oeuvre de contrôles frontaliers dans les ports maritimes de la Manche et de la mer du Nord|url=http://www.senat.fr/leg/pjl02-433.html|website=Sénat|accessdate=5 July 2016|language=French}}{{cite web|title=Treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the French Republic concerning the implementation of frontier controls at sea ports of both countries on the Channel and North Sea|url=http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2016/02/LeTouquetTreaty2003.pdf|website=Channel 4|accessdate=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420152543/http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2016/02/LeTouquetTreaty2003.pdf|archive-date=20 April 2016|url-status=dead}} Passengers travelling from the port to Dover, UK go through French exit checks (conducted by the French Border Police and French Customs) as well as UK immigration entry checks (by the UK Border Force) before embarkation. UK Border Force officers have the power to arrest and detain individuals in the immigration control zone in the port.{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2003 |number=2818 |si=The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) Order 2003}} Customs checks remain unaffected by the Treaty. Therefore, on arrival in Dover, travellers might still be stopped by UK Border Force customs officers for a customs inspection.{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/546809/An-Inspection-of-Juxtaposed-Controls_Aug_2013.pdf |title=An Inspection of Juxtaposed Controls (November 2012 - March 2013) |publisher=Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=28 March 2020 |at=para 4.2}}

Port layout

The harbour entrance is to the north-west of the main harbour, coming after a dredged channel due west. Once past the harbour entrance and in Avant Port (or Outer Harbour), the waterway splits into two directions, south-east to Canal de Calais or east-north east to Bassin Président Henri-Ravisse.

On the Bassin Président Henri-Ravisse not far in lie ferry berths on the southern side of the channel, while on the northern side lies a RoRo dock. These ferry berths are capable of handling a ship up to 215 metres long. Further past the berths lie the cargo ship docks, with the northern shoreline hosting four ship-to-shore cranes. The southern side of the channel has nothing as all the space is taken by the ferry cargo handling facilities, so it is instead used as a general mooring station. The Bassin Président Henri-Ravisse ends with three RoRo berths at the end.

The Canal de Calais goes to the south of the ferry terminal, and turns right, to the south into Arrière Port. Behind a sluice gate and a moveable bridge lies Bassin de Ouest, which is used as a mooring space

for yachts and other pleasure boats. In Arrière Port however, there the channel branches off into Le Canal de Calais à Saint-Omer, which leads into a lock. Behind the lock lies Bassin Carnot, which is used as a secondary cargo terminal. After that, to the south-west lies another set of locks, which branch off into Calais' canal system.{{cite web| url = https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ports/155/France_port:CALAIS| title = Port of CALAIS (FR CQF) details - Departures, Expected Arrivals and Port Calls {{!}} AIS MarineTraffic}}

Marine transport

{{As of|2021|6}}, three companies operate regular scheduled services to Calais:

=Ferry services=

class="wikitable"
Ferry Company||Destination||Notes
Irish FerriesDoverService began 29 June 2021.
DFDS SeawaysDover
P&O FerriesDover

Traffic

Cargo traffic has tripled over the past two decades. In 2007 more than 41.5 million tonnes of traffic passed through Calais with some 11.52 million passengers, 1.4 million trucks and trailers, 2.249 million cars and 4,700 crossings a year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nordfranceinvest.fr/?action=loadPage&pageId=146|title=Calais|publisher=Nord France Invest|accessdate=10 February 2012}} On average, ships sail from the port every 30 minutes. Most of the traffic in Calais comes from the Port of Dover.

Expansion

In 2015, A new 400 million euro project was underway at the port to create a breakwater protecting a pool of 700 metres long, thus allowing Calais to have the capability to handle vessels of all shapes and sizes, from the smallest private yachts to supersize cruise ships, like the Oasis class cruise ships.{{cite web|title=CALAIS PORT 2015 BREAKWATER IS NOW 685 METERS LONG !|url=https://www.spd-calais.com/en/actu/calais-port-2015-breakwater-is-now-685-meters-long|website=Société des Ports du Détroit (SPD)|accessdate=24 January 2018|date=31 October 2016}}{{cite web|title=Bouygues chooses Xblocs for Calais breakwater|url=http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/bouygues-chooses-xblocs-for-calais-breakwater|website=www.theconstructionindex.co.uk|accessdate=24 January 2018|date=23 Feb 2016}}

Access

Buses connect the port with Gare de Calais-Ville on the SNCF network. There are regular TER Hauts-de-France trains through Hazebrouck to Lille Flandres (for SNCB/NMBS into Belgium, for example to Gent-Sint-Pieters), Calais-Fréthun, Boulogne, as well as along the coast via Gravelines to Dunkerque.

There are also direct TGV trains which run from Calais-Ville then via Calais-Fréthun (served by Eurostar) to Lille-Europe and Paris Gare du Nord.

See also

References

=Notes=

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{cite book|last1=Hendy|first1=John|title=Sealink Dover–Calais|date=1988|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Staplehurst, Kent|isbn=0951350617}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Hendy|first1=John|title=Dover-Calais: The Short-Sea Route|date=2009|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=9781871947939}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Hendy|first1=John|title=Dover-Calais|date=2016|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=9781906608743}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Paterson|first1=J.D.|title=By Dover and Calais from early times to the present day|date=1894|publisher=Printed at the "King's Arms" Printing Works|location=Dover|oclc=12041086}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Spiers|first1=Derek|title=Troopships to Calais: the story of Calais as a military port from 1944 to 1947 and the ships which served it|date=1998|publisher=Meresborough Books|location=Rainham, Kent|isbn=0948193395}}

{{Refend}}

See also

Jean-Marc Puissesseau - President and Chairman of the ports of Calais and Boulogne (Société d’Exploitation des Ports du Détroit)