Unseen by many, the Independent Port of Strasbourg hums with activity day and night. It stands as France’s second-largest river port. It is also the third-largest on the Rhine.
Welcome to the Independent Port of Strasbourg. This is more than just a place of transit. It’s a vital organ in Strasbourg’s economic body.
The Independent Port of Strasbourg’s story began in 1926. It was created to expand port installations. This was an agreement between the French State and the City of Strasbourg. The port celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2016.
Imagine the bustle in 1955. Traffic exceeded 6 billion tons for the first time. By 2009, it had grown even more. The port handled 9 billion tonnes by river. It also managed 1.4 billion tonnes by train. A staggering 18 billion tonnes arrived by truck.
The Independent Port of Strasbourg spans over 100 km. This area includes the main port of Strasbourg. It also encompasses ports in Lauterbourg, Beinheim and Marckolsheim. Seltz, Fort-Louis, Dalhunden, Drusenheim, Offendorf, Gerstheim and Rhinau are included.
Today, over 320 companies operate within the Independent Port of Strasbourg. They employ 1,300 people. The main cargo includes cereal, petrol products, and gravel.
Container traffic is booming here. In 2012, 425,000 TEUs were handled. Half of these containers traveled by river. In 2010, the port inaugurated a second gantry crane. Now, four gantry cranes operate here.
The Independent Port of Strasbourg includes several sites. They cover a distance of 100 km. This represents an area of 1,060 hectares. There are 200 hectares of docks.
The Trade Dock and the Industry Dock were created in the early 20th century. Both have direct access to the Rhine. The port was still a municipal venture then.
The establishment continued to develop Strasbourg’s port area. The southern lock was built. Also, the Ramparts, Vauban and René Graff Docks were added. This happened between 1927 and 1931.
The oil terminal opened in 1927. It was extended in 1963. The north and south outports followed in 1927 and 1935. The southern part of the port started in 1950. Additional areas were developed between Marckolsheim and Lauterbourg.
The Port du Rhin district has about 2,000 inhabitants. It has been re-connected to the center of Strasbourg by tram. New developments are transforming the district.
The new walkway along the Rhine is a green ribbon. It separates housing from the riverbank. This extends the Jardin des Deux-Rives. It also engages with its twin park on the German side.
The Independent Port of Strasbourg also operates Batorama. This company offers boat tours of Strasbourg. They have a fleet of nine Dutch-style ships. These ships can pass under the bridges. 700,000 tourists use them each year.
The Independent Port of Strasbourg stretches for 10km along the river. It covers an area of 1,058ha. Port facilities include seven docks with a constant water level. There are also eight docks with a variable water level. Three outer ports are here.
The Independent Port of Strasbourg handles a lot of cargo. Annually, it sees nearly 1,152,000t of grain. There are 400,000t of provisions and feeding material. Also, 2,080,000t of petrol products move through here. Strasbourg is a “green petrol” port. The handling of gravel is another important activity. It accounts for 3,030,000t annually.
So, as you stand here today, remember the Independent Port of Strasbourg. It is a testament to Strasbourg’s trading power. It has linked the city to the world for almost a century.