Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port is a public body and implements government policy for infrastructure planning and sustainability while addressing the economy, employment and the environment. Its remit is broad and includes: building, operating and maintaining maritime access, policing, security and safety, preserving natural areas, building and servicing infrastructure, promoting rail and river access, managing industrial estates and logistics, and overall promotion of the port. Each year, more than 3000 merchant ships stop at the port sites of Nantes Saint-Nazaire. With an annual traffic of over 25 million tonnes, Nantes-Saint Nazaire is the 4th largest seaport in mainland France and the largest port on the French Atlantic coast.

Major marine renewables developments

The Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port development plan makes room for a new industry on the estuary of the Loire River. This is borne out by a new investment programme in conjunction with central government, local authorities and private partners. As part of the development plan, an industrial hub will be built at Montoir-de-Bretagne where a GE-Alstrom plant is already operating along with industrial and logistics units specialising in marine renewables. Furthermore, a pre-assembly site for offshore wind developments has been planned at Saint-Nazaire. It will cater for delivery, storage, pre-assembly and logistics of various offshore wind turbine components, including those for the wind farm off Saint-Nazaire. Lastly, Le Carnet site will host an ecological and industrial park dedicated to renewable energy.