“There will be no major French ports without French ship owners” (Christophe Castaner, Marseille port major)

SUNDAY NA TRIBUNE – Maritime sector fees are being debated. What is the impact of Marseille Fos?

CHRISTOPHE CASTANER – Let us never forget that before we spread wealth, we must produce it. This requires complex reasoning, but we will try to do it. The surrounding debate marine department fees necessary because it directly affects the competitiveness of our companies, especially those that innovate to decarbonize their operations. There are many risks associated with any tax expense. First there is the question of tonnage tax, which is sometimes misunderstood but is still an essential pillar of maritime policy in France and Europe. It is completely unfair to characterize it as a tax loophole. It is an internationally recognized tax system that has been adopted by many maritime countries to ensure their competitiveness. It would be a question of creating a French exception regarding maritime taxes, weakening our position in a sector that is already under the control of strong international competition.

Is it necessary to remember that France has the second largest maritime area in the world, with 10.9 million km² of exclusive economic zone? Having a sovereign merchant fleet is fundamental, both to our economy and to our strategic independence. While a republic invites itself to the bed of sovereigntywhat message would we send to the world by sacrificing an entire department? Let’s face the truth: the use of the tonnage tax is linked to the flag, but it only takes a few hours to change the flag of a ship in Europe. Are we really ready to give up a fleet that will allow us to secure our supply and actively participate in global maritime transport? At least for famous companies like CMA CGM (owner of the group La Tribune nouvelle) or for SMEs involved in maritime innovation, an increase in fees could also create a competitive disadvantage compared to their European and Asian competitors, who will benefit from more favorable conditions in their own countries.

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Another major concern is the abolition of exemptions from employers’ contributions granted to maritime companies. These exemptions make it possible to keep the costs of French officials competitive at an international level. Removing them would mean an increase in costs that many French ship owners would not be able to afford, which would have a direct impact on their ability to recruit and retain talent, but also on their international competitiveness. It could also damage the appeal of the French flag, at a time when it is necessary to strengthen maritime training and attract new talents in a sector that is changing rapidly.

Abolition of the Marine Intervention Fund in 2025 that could be another blow to the sector. This fund made it possible to support innovative projects and fund necessary initiatives to modernize port infrastructure, especially in our Port. The maritime sector is, by its very nature, one of the most global. France, with its rich maritime history and privileged access to the Mediterranean, must fight to keep its companies and shipowners in a position of strength. There will be no major French ports without French ship owners.

Are the indicators of the maritime sector’s competitiveness moving towards decarbonisation rather than cargo volume?

Cargo volume is still an important indicator, but today, real competitiveness is measured by a port’s ability to follow the logic of decarbonisation. At the port, we have made a head start with structural projects around green hydrogen and renewable energy. These innovations allow us to attract companies that share our vision of sustainable re-industry. It is not just a question of being a transit point for goods, but of being heavily involved in the movement of energy at a European level. We are moving from an oil port to a multi-energy port. As I told you, we are planning an ambitious investment plan over the coming years to support this transformation, renew our infrastructure and develop innovative projects, such as high-speed electrification floors, renewable energy and carbon sequestration. This strategic turning point is essential to attract investors and businesses, by offering them solutions suitable for the energy transition.

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The 400,000 volt high voltage line project, sponsored by RTE, is the subject of discussion. Is there a risk to the port’s main power projects?

In fact, access to sufficient electrical energy is critical to our future. The projects we are developing in Marseille Fos, especially those linked to green hydrogen, are essential for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and the industrial jurisdiction of France. The industrial-port area of ​​Fos-sur-Mer, one of the largest in Europe, is a strength for national industry but also, we must be clear-minded, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonization It is a real emergency, which requires secure access to carbon-free energy. The Marseille Fos port strategy focuses on this decarbonisation with projects such as H2V for green hydrogen, GravitHy for low-carbon reduced iron, and Carbon for photovoltaic panels. These projects, essential for reactivating the decarbonisation of the region, will require 2,400 MW of electricity by 2029. Other projects, such as NéoCarb for synthetic fuelit will bring this demand to 2,900 MW. Across the Gulf of Fos, more than 6,000 MW of requests to connect to the electricity network are expected by 2030, almost equal to the peak power of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azure region all of it. It is essential to reconsider the electricity supply of the region to support these major industrial projects, which are essential to France’s energy sovereignty and green re-industrialization. The issue is not only local, we need to do everything we can to ensure that these projects succeed.

Is boat electrification at docks the answer to disputes in the cruise sector?

We laid the first milestones for the project “Electronic Connection of Vessels at the Quay (CENAQ) – Zero Smoke Stopovers” in 2017, this is not a hot reaction to current events. This technology is being make it possible to significantly reduce pollution emissions by electrifying ships when they are stationary. This year, the Port Inspection Board approved a new investment of 88 million euros to expand the CENAQ infrastructure, which in addition to the 81 million euros already invested in the first phase that allowed the piers to welcome mixed ferries to Corsica, international ferries and, by 2025, flights. the Port offers this solution to all types of ships, whether in port or under repair, thus exceeding the the requirements of the European AFIR regulationwhich requires electrification along the docks by 2030. A study given to the Pôle Mer Méditerranée made it possible to measure the impact of the CENAQ system and the regulations on air quality. The results are piling up. They show that in 2026, despite a slight increase in traffic, sulfur dioxide emissions will decrease by 60%, and those of fine particles by 48%, thanks to the combination of CENAQ, the establishment of emission controls in the Mediterranean Sea and technological progress in ships.

The investment envelope approved for 2024 amounts to 118 million euros. What about the next few years?

In 2025, we will continue the investment path started as part of the new five-year strategic project. By 2030, the port of Marseille Fos plans to invest 1.2 billion euros in structural projects, with a gradual increase in capacity over the years. These investments will focus on the five ambitions defined by our 2050 vision: traffic and logistics development, leadership in the passenger sector, the creation of a “green” energy center, low carbon reactivation and development of digital technology. These five resolutions reflect our desire to transform Marseille Fos into a new generation port, able to meet economic, environmental and technological challenges in the coming decades. Each investment will be designed to strengthen our many strategic assets and to guarantee the long-term competitiveness of the port.