Discover the commitments behind the Canal
Find here the structural commitments of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe and the project partners.
Discover the commitments behind the Canal
Find here the structural commitments of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe and the project partners.
French river transport companies (E2F) and the Seine-Nord Europe Canal Company (SCSNE) signed a charter on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, to jointly create the conditions for river transport in the Canal construction project, and to promote the success of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal through the participation of companies in the river sector and their support in preparing for the opening of the new link.
The Seine-Nord Europe Canal construction projects will generate significant transport needs related to the supply of external materials (approximately 10 million tons) and the management of excavated material movements. SCSNE has made river transport a key element of its procurement policy in order to reduce the environmental impact of the works.
This begins with the construction of 10 work berths on the Canal du Nord for the transshipment of materials , representing an investment of around €20 million. These 10 berths are in addition to the 2 work berths already completed in 2022 in Ribécourt-Dreslincourt and Pimprez in the Oise department.
Furthermore, SCSNE includes in the main works contracts a logistics clause which translates in the consultations into a selection criterion for offers linked to modal shift and, in the contract, into an overall objective of massification on a targeted scope adapted to each market.
E2F and SCSNE also commit to communicating with companies in the river sector, and to regularly informing them about the latest news and next steps of the project.
For river transport companies, the prospect of the opening of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal – the central link in the Seine-Scheldt network – represents a historic event, firstly because of the dramatic increase in traffic it will generate. Thanks to the new competitiveness of river transport and the opening up of the Seine basin, forecasts predict a growth of nearly 40% in traffic in France compared to today, with a four- to five-fold increase on the North-South axis. The Seine-Nord Europe Canal will thus contribute to the redistribution of transport flows of raw materials and goods and to the relocation of a portion of European production and logistics between the Seine basin and Northern France and Europe.
On the other hand, this exceptional multi-year project should also be an opportunity to highlight the river sector and strengthen the image and attractiveness of its professions and companies, and to generate the interest of investors to successfully open the Seine-Scheldt link.
Supporting the industry is a strategic imperative for the Canal's success. E2F and SCSNE are fully committed to working alongside barge operators, providing them with the information and advice they need, particularly regarding :
Added October 16, 2024 - Updated October 16, 2024
