Haropa Port in France has assigned a consortium comprising VINCI Construction (62%, via its subsidiary Terelian) and Belgian company DEME (38%) to construct La Chatière, a river link to Port 2000 in Le Havre, Normandy.
The contract is worth €183m ($188m) and will include the construction of a 1,800m river channel with an embankment.
The La Chatière project is funded by the Normandy region, the French government, the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility, and Haropa Port, which aims to enhance multimodality and decarbonise transport along the Seine River corridor.
The channel, set to open in 2027, will link Port 2000 to the Seine River basin.
Direct river access to the port reduces carbon emissions, improves safety and boosts container transport.
The project will also involve clearing unexploded ordinances – a complex task that requires specialised skills.
The consortium will involve VINCI Construction subsidiaries Océlian for maritime works, and Navarra TS and Cardem Pyro for soil remediation.
VINCI Construction recently upgraded the La Cotinière fishing port in southwest France and the Brest commercial port in Brittany.
Ongoing projects include the development of the Porto-Vecchio marina in Corsica, the expansion of Port-la-Nouvelle’s commercial port, and the installation of onshore power for cruise ships at three Le Havre berths in collaboration with VINCI Energies.
In December 2024, VINCI Construction’s subsidiaries Seymour Whyte and VINCI Construction Grands Projets secured an A$385m ($236m) contract from Icon Water, the Australian Capital Territory’s water and wastewater service provider.
