Sea
The Port of Dunkirk has 2 port access points along its 17 km of coastline.
The Eastern Port, behind locks , is accessible to ships of up to 120,000 tons and a maximum draught of 14.20 metres. It accommodates many terminals specializing in liquid and dry bulk, and general cargo, breakbulk.
The Western Port is an open-access facility, accessible to ships with a draught of 16.5 metres without lock or tidal constraints. It is home to container, ferry (freight and passenger) and LNG terminals, as well as a dry bulk terminal capable of handling capesize vessels.
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Containers
Dunkirk's container terminal, Terminal des Flandres (TDF), located in the West Port, offers regular shipping lines exceptional nautical access and a short sea diversion time from the Dover Strait shipping lane.
With container traffic increasing 3-fold over the last 10 years, the Port of Dunkirk has seen the strongest growth of any North European port.
TDF is also one of the few European terminals capable of handling the world's largest container ships (Ultra large Containerships - ULCS) at full load, without any tidal constraints, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Key features of TDF
- 1,600 meters of deep-water quay
- 2 berths dredged to 17.50 meters
- 8 gantry cranes (6 handling vessels > 20,000 TEU)
- 70-hectare terminal area
- 700 reefer plugs for temperature-controlled containers
- Dry port with four 850-meter rail tracks
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Trade cars
The Port of Dunkirk, the gateway to the Hauts-de-France battery valley, now offers a global ecosystem for electric mobility. The BARRA SNM Terminal provides both human and technical resources to handle trade cars to / from car carriers.
In conjunction with this activity, the CEVA LOGISTICS Group operates a land-based new vehicle logistics terminal just behind the quay. Reception and storage areas, as well as loading and unloading areas for trains and car-carrying trucks, are provided.
RO-RO
Dunkirk ranks as France's second-largest port for freight trade with the UK and Ireland. Its strategic location makes it a natural hub for RO-RO freight traffic with the British Isles.
DFDS operates two regular services for the transportation of accompanied & unaccompanied trailers, as well as trade cars :
UK
Dunkirk – Dover : 12 crossings/day
More details on DFDS website
Ireland
Dunkirk – Rosslare : 5 crossings/week
More details on DFDS website
Dry Bulk
Dunkirk is France's leading port for dry bulk handling, which accounts for around 40% of total activity. This leading position is due to the importance of the port industrial cluster's raw materials needs, and to its ability to mobilize inland waterway and rail transport means with its hinterland.
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A dozen terminals specialize in handling all types of dry bulk, including ores, coal, scrap metal, slag, marine aggregates, cement, minerals, pellets and much more.
ALUMINIUM DUNKERQUE, ARCELORMITTAL, CEMEX, EQIOM and TTS have their own facilities for their specific needs.
Thanks to their rail and/or waterway transhipment capacity, the following terminal operators are highly active in the reception, storage and distribution of all types of dry bulk requiring inland carriage: BARRA SNM (terminal F12), SDMT, STEB (terminal F13), DMT, SEABULK (terminals F11, TMV and QGS) and QPO SAS.
Cereals
The Port of Dunkirk, backed by a major wheat- and barley-producing region, stands as a key player in French grain exports.
With excellent waterway and rail connections, the NORD CEREALES terminal offers 360,000 tons of silo storage capacity. Its dedicated loading quay is capable of handling full loads of Panamax-class vessels (up to 63,000 tonnes).
Liquid Bulk
Liquid bulk accounts for 20% of Dunkirk’s overall activity. Major players include TOTAL and VERSALIS, with terminals tailored to their needs. The following terminals are open to third-party traffic :
TEPSA and Dépôts Pétroliers Côtiers (DPC) for the reception and storage of a wide range of bulk liquids (hydrocarbons, biofuels, oilseed products, etc.).
Dunkerque LNG terminal. This is one of Europe's leading terminals for receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG), with a capacity of 600,000 m3.
Breakbulk & heavy lift
BARRA SNM (East Port) and STE (East and Central Ports) terminals have the human and technical resources required to handle all types of conventional cargo, in particular steel products, as well as exceptional loads and heavy lifts.
In the West Port, Terminal des Flandres (TDF), operator of the container terminal, is also able to handle exceptionnal shipments along its quays.
Terminal map
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