Implementation of the port reform in Le Havre : the gradual sale of equipment

In the Port of Le Havre, a new important step has been taken in the implementation of the port reform with the signature of all sales contracts for equipment concerning the container terminals.

Grand Port Maritime du Havre has just signed the last two sales contracts for container terminals :

- The first was signed on June 11th with the Société d’Equipement du Terminal de Normandie (SETN), the third party investing in TNMSC, who has acquired 2 Reggiane gantries.

- The second was signed on June 14th last, with Compagnie Nouvelle de Manutention Portuaire (CNMP) for the equipment of the Terminal de l’Atlantique.

Both signatures finalize the sale of the equipment concerning the container terminals of the port of Le Havre which will now be run under the procedure of Terminal Agreements.

A few dates to be reminded :

- the law of 4 July 2008 concerning the port reform provides that the ‘Grands Ports Maritimes’ have to stop operating the equipment within a maximum time of two years as from the adoption of their strategic project, which means that they have to be sold to terminal operators.

- In Le Havre, the strategic project – which states the perimeter of each terminal and the list of equipment to be sold – was adopted by the Supervisory Board of GPMH on 9 April 2009. Dialogue has immediately been started to get mutual agreements with the local operators, in order to work out draft agreements for all terminals concerned in June 2009.

- Between end of 2009 and early 2010, the Commission Nationale d'Evaluation des Outillages (« Equipment Assessment National Commission”) gave favourable advice about the assessment of the sale of all movable goods (gantry cranes) and immovables (buildings and back-up areas), on the basis of the files forwarded by the GPMH. Further to each advice statement and in compliance with the text, the GPMH has 6 months’time to sale the equipment : this process is underway.

Signing of a ‘method agreement’ to the benefit of the port activity in Le Havre.

In the port of Le Havre, the port reform has reached a new important step with the signing of a ‘method agreement’ between the Board and the CGT trade union of the Port of Le Havre Authority. This agreement provides guarantees in terms of reliability on the port terminals.

In line with the recent completion of the sale of the gantry cranes, the signing of a ‘method agreement’ is a significant step in the local implementation of the French port reform.

By signing this agreement, the Board and the CGT trade union of the Port of Le Havre Authority formalized their willingness to continue the discussions at the local level, in compliance with the national framework agreement, approved by the French Union of Ports and Docks (FNPD, in French, for ‘Fédération Nationale des Ports et Docks'), on October 30, 2008.

From now, the CGT trade union of the Port of Le Havre Authority is committing itself in guaranteeing the port activity until completion of the negotiation on the local agreement. This social peace agreement involves the end of local work stoppages, which have recently disorganized and disrupted business port activities.

This ‘method agreement’ embodies the shared commitment of the Board and port workers to make the port of Le Havre the main port of Western Europe.
(Source:shippingchina)