UN/LOCODE: FRLEH📍 France
Port of Le Havre (UN/LOCODE FRLEH)
❖ Coordinates: 49.4944°N, 0.1079°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/Paris
❖ UN/LOCODE: FRLEH
## About the Port
Le Havre (UN/LOCODE: **FRLEH**) is France’s second‑largest container gateway and the premier deep‑water hub on the English Channel. Situated in the Seine‑Maritime department of Normandy, the port lies at **49.49437 °N, 0.107929 °E** and operates on **Europe/Paris** (UTC+1/UTC+2) time. Its natural harbor, protected by the Seine estuary, accommodates vessels with drafts up to 16 m, making it a preferred call for ultra‑large container ships (ULCS) and bulk carriers alike. Governed by the **Grand Port Maritime du Havre** (GPMH), the facility integrates state‑of‑the‑art automation, rail interconnectivity, and a multimodal logistics network that serves a catchment area of over 30 million inhabitants across northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and western Germany.
The port’s strategic location—approximately 190 km northwest of Paris—offers direct access to the European inland waterway system via the Seine, enabling seamless hinterland distribution. Its 43‑km coastline comprises container terminals, oil terminals, ro‑ro (roll‑on/roll‑off) berths, and a dedicated cruise‑ship terminal, positioning Le Havre as a pivotal node in both freight and passenger maritime traffic.
## History
Le Havre’s origins trace back to the 16th century when King Francis I ordered the construction of a fortified harbor to protect the mouth of the Seine. The modern port began to take shape under Napoleon III in the 1860s, when the first mechanised cranes and a rail link to Paris were introduced. Throughout the 20th century, the port evolved through successive waves of modernization:
- **World War II**: After suffering extensive damage during the 1944 Normandy landings, reconstruction under the Marshall Plan restored and expanded the quay length.
- **1970s‑1980s**: A shift toward containerisation prompted the opening of the first container terminal (Terminal 1) and the implementation of computerized terminal operating systems.
- **1990s**: Integration into the European Union’s single market spurred the development of the **Tremplin** intermodal terminal, linking the port directly to the French high‑speed rail network (LGV Nord‑Paris).
- **2000‑Present**: The inauguration of the **New Container Terminal (NCT)** in 2007 and the adoption of a **smart‑port** strategy—including automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and real‑time cargo tracking—have cemented Le Havre’s status as a digital‑first maritime gateway.
Historical milestones are chronicled by the port authority and can be explored further at the official site【https://www.portlefavre.fr/en/history】.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Container Terminals
- **Terminal 1** (opened 1970) – 1,200 m quay, 12 m depth, equipped with 21 Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes (30 m outreach).
- **Terminal 2** (opened 1992) – 1,350 m quay, 15 m depth, 9 Super‑Post‑Panamax cranes, advanced yard management software (YMS).
- **New Container Terminal (NCT)** – 1,750 m quay, 16 m depth, 13 Super‑Post‑Panamax cranes, 20 % automated stacking cranes (ASCs), and a dedicated 1,200 TEU/ha container yard.
Combined, the terminals handle **> 5 million TEU** annually, with a peak hourly handling capacity exceeding 12,000 TEU.
### Bulk & Liquid Terminals
- **Oil Terminal** – 3 km of berths, 12 m draft, equipped for crude, refined products, and LPG, with a storage capacity of 2.5 million m³.
- **Grain Terminal** – 2 berths, 14 m draft, featuring ship‑to‑shore conveyors and silos holding 1.4 million t.
- **Coal Terminal** – 2 berths, 15 m draft, equipped with high‑capacity unloaders handling up to 9 Mt/yr.
### Ro‑Ro and Cruise Facilities
- **Ro‑Ro Terminal** – 5 berths, 13 m draft, servicing car manufacturers (e.g., Renault, Peugeot) and ferry operators to the UK and Ireland.
- **Cruise Terminal** – 2 berths, designed for vessels up to 300 m, with passenger processing facilities and direct city‑center transit links.
### Hinterland Connectivity
- **Rail** – 300 km of dedicated freight rail lines connect the port to the French national network (SNCF), enabling 30 % of cargo to move by rail.
- **Road** – Proximity to the A13 and A29 motorways provides fast lane access to Paris, the Ruhr, and the Benelux region.
- **Inland Waterways** – The Seine navigation channel permits vessels up to 350 m length to reach the Port of Paris.
## Economic Importance
Le Havre contributes significantly to both the regional and national economies:
- **Employment**: Direct port jobs exceed 25,000, while indirect employment in logistics, manufacturing, and services reaches approximately 120,000.
- **Revenue**: Annual turnover of the port authority surpasses €1.2 billion, with container handling alone generating €800 million in fees and ancillary services.
- **Trade Balance**: The port accounts for roughly **15 %** of France’s total maritime import/export value, handling €115 billion in 2022 (UNCTAD data【https://unctad.org/statistics】).
- **Industrial Clusters**: The surrounding “Port‑Gare” zone hosts petrochemical, automotive, and agri‑food clusters, leveraging the port’s multimodal logistics for just‑in‑time (JIT) supply chains.
Strategically, Le Havre is a cornerstone of France’s **“Port 2030”** blueprint, which targets a 30 % reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne‑kilometer through electrified quay cranes, shore‑side electricity (cold ironing), and increased rail modal share.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Global Trade Corridors
- **Asia‑Europe**: Direct services from Shanghai, Busan, and Singapore to Le Havre via the Northern Sea Route (when ice conditions allow) and the Suez Canal.
- **Trans‑Atlantic**: Regular liner calls from New York, Savannah, and the Gulf Coast (Houston, New Orleans), supporting North‑American imports of consumer goods and agricultural commodities.
- **Intra‑Europe**: Short‑sea shipping routes to Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg complement the long‑haul liner network, fostering a “maritime Silk Road” within the EU.
### Key Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Approx. Share of Total Volume | Typical Origin/Destination |
|----------------|------------------------------|----------------------------|
| **Containerized Goods** | 55 % | Electronics (Asia), automotive parts (Europe), fashion (Asia/Europe) |
| **Oil & Refined Products** | 15 % | Crude from the Middle East, refined diesel to inland France |
| **Agricultural Commodities** | 12 % | Grain from the US Midwest, soy from Brazil |
| **Automobiles & Parts** | 8 % | Export of French vehicles to the US and Asia |
| **Chemicals & Plastics** | 5 % | Petrochemical feedstocks from the Gulf, specialty chemicals to EU markets |
| **Ro‑Ro Freight** | 3 % | Vehicles, heavy machinery, and rolling stock |
The port’s **cargo handling efficiency**—averaging 2.3 hours turnaround for a 12,000‑TEU ULCS—places it among the top 10 European container hubs. Continuous investment in **digital twin technology** enables predictive berth allocation, reducing idle time and improving vessel schedule reliability.
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Le Havre’s blend of deep‑water capacity, advanced terminal infrastructure, and robust multimodal links underpins its role as a linchpin of European maritime trade. Its ongoing commitment to sustainability, automation, and strategic network expansion ensures that the port will remain a decisive gateway for global commerce well into the mid‑21st century.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
FRLEH
Country
France
Province / Region
Seine-Maritime
Latitude
49.494370
Longitude
0.107929
Timezone
Europe/Paris
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Le Havre?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Le Havre is FRLEH.
Where is Port of Le Havre located?
The Port of Le Havre is located in France, Seine-Maritime. Its coordinates are 49.4944°N, 0.1079°E.
What time zone is Port of Le Havre in?
Port of Le Havre operates in the Europe/Paris time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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