The long-overdue demolition of the old ice building that dominated Lorient’s harbour area has opened up new opportunities for the Brittany port, one of the largest landing ports in France for seafood.
Pulling down the ice house has freed up 8000 square metres of space, plus roughly the same area again around the site of the old building, and plans are being made to make use of the space as investment continues to be earmarked for further development.
‘The principle is to promote the establishment of companies in the marine sector by offering them space as well as functional and sustainable infrastructure,’ said Pierre-Gilles Le Marer, the Brittany region’s deputy manager for the port of Lorient.
Initiatives include washing and storage facilities for boxes, setting aside space for developing economic activity, and water treatment facilities.
Decisions will have to be taken from 2023 onwards, when work on wastewater and rainwater systems is completed, along with discharge stations and a wastewater treatment plant.
The port is acquiring a new 800-tonne capacity boatlift and work is being done to make full use of the port’s massive concrete submarine base facilities.
‘After committing more than €30 million over the past five years, a second multi-annual investment plan for at least the same amount is being discussed to come into force from next year,’ Pierre-Gilles Le Marer said.
