Marseilles approves Fos 2XL terms with MSC

The Port of Marseilles Authority board has approved the terms of the agreement under which Mediterranean Shipping Company is to operate one of two new facilities within the port? Fos 2XL container terminal development.

The MSC concession covers 700 metres of quay and 54 hectares shoreside. Following the PMA board?s go-ahead at its meeting on October 29, the agreement is now ready to be signed when the French government approves technical and financial details.

Under the agreement, MSC has been given operating rights for 35 years in return for attracting guaranteed minimum traffic levels. Lease charges would be subject to penalty or bonus depending on whether or not the operator reaches annual targets. The terms also set out the operator? responsibilities for superstructure investment, which will complement the publicly funded infrastructure development.

MSC concession tender was selected last March. Bids to operate the other Fos 2XL facility saw CMA-CGM/P&O Ports joint venture Port Synergy chosen in 2002. The PMA board says it expects the Port Synergy agreement to be presented no later than January 31 next.