Heavy-Lift and Outsized Cargo Take Centre Stage at Oportunity’s Season-Opening Event
The Saint Nazaire area is one of Europe’s most powerful and diversified industrial hubs. Centring today around Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Airbus, Vinci, Everllence and Siemens Gamesa for the Îles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier offshore wind farm, or previously around General Electric with the Saint Nazaire offshore wind farm, a complete ecosystem of high value-added industrial and port-based production and logistics has been structured. This oversized cargo logistics took centre stage at Oportunity’s season-opening event in Saint Nazaire on 9th October.
Nearly 200 economic stakeholders and representatives from the Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port Community attended Oportunity’s season opener. The focus was on the management of oversized cargo, which requires total coordination between all the players involved: carriers, logistics providers, cargo handlers, pilots, tugboat operators, shipowners, local authorities and Central Government agencies. This culture of teamwork makes Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire a very special port community, capable of combining technical rigour, operational agility and a sense of partnership.
They Talk about It Better Than We Can
"Pays de la Loire stands out as the Region with the highest number of oversized load consignments in France."
Clément Coulon, Transports Augizeau Abnormal Loads Division.
"For the leisure marine industry, Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire has what it takes to become our hub, the main gateway for our products outbound." Guillaume Arnauld des Lions, French Leisure Marine Industries Federation.
"Cargo consignments are becoming increasingly larger, wider and heavier, and infrastructures are under strain. We support and coordinate these abnormal load operations, which must be smooth and secure." Michel le Roch, DDTM (Departmental Directorate for Communities and Maritime Affairs).
"The scope for action is collective; it requires determination and synergy, and we must continue to work together." Eloïse Petit, DDTM.
"At Montoir and Saint Nazaire, we have vessels designed for abnormal cargo shipments, shipping lines, infrastructures, industrial firms and skilled personnel for handling high value-added cargo... We have genuine local cooperation and enormous potential." Jean-Christophe Herry, Somaloir.
Following the discussions, the participants enjoyed a moment of conviviality together, playing a game of "auction-style bidding" with prizes offered by Boluda and the Loire Pilots Association.
Some Pictures…
