Port of Caen-Ouistreham
Welcome to the Port of Caen-Ouistreham
This inland port is versatile (cereals, wood, scrap iron, food processing…) and operated by the Caen Normandy Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). It operates four terminals on the 15 km canal which links Caen to the sea. 2,000 m of wharves, accessible to ships of up to 30,000 tonnes burden and 9 m draught, processing 500,000 tonnes of dry, liquid and breakbulk cargo annually.
The Ouistreham-Portsmouth route is the leading cross-Channel link to the west of Dover with 3 rotations daily operated by Brittany Ferries.
Every year the port welcomes 10 to 15 luxury cruise liners. Their passengers tour the D-Day beaches, Mont Saint Michel, Caen Memorial, etc.
It is home to two marinas, one at the heart of Caen and the other at Ouistreham, the Norlanda incubator for boat-related businesses, and about fifteen inshore fishing boats. Ports of Normandy has recently upgraded the outer harbour to improve the user experience for recreational craft and fishing boats.
In 2022, the maintenance facility for the Calvados offshore wind farm was set up at the mouth of the canal in the Port of Ouistreham.
The port is also an important industrial centre, comprising automotive (Volvo Trucks), oil industry (ITP), shipbuilding (Ayro), and food processing (Agrial).
Lastly, with more than 60,000 m² of buildings (warehouses and workshops) and more than 20 ha of available land, the Port of Caen-Ouistreham has residual capacity for you!
Jérôme CHAUVET
Business Development Manager
Ports of Normandy directs operations (delegated to our port operators) and policing (harbourmasters).
Caen Normandy CCI operates on behalf of Ports of Normandy the two concessions: fishing and commercial
Nautisme Caen Ouistreham operates since the 1st january 2024, on behalf of Ports of Normandy the yachting and leisure at Ouistreham and Caen
The harbourmaster's office organises the berthing and movements of vessels in the harbour, is responsible for the surveillance and security of the port and its facilities, and enjoys regulatory and policing powers.
Leading operator to the west of Dover, Brittany Ferries offers 3 rotations daily to Portsmouth.
This service is provided by Caen Normandy CCI and comprises 3 tugs based in the port
This service is provided by the Société Coopérative de Lamanage of the Port of Caen-Ouistreham
The pilots of the Syndicat du Pilotage de la Seine guide vessels through the entrance channel to the port, along the 15 km canal, and through the locks.
Shipping agents represent the shipowner or the charterer during the ship’s visit.
Brief overview
This bridge is an essential link between the east and west halves of Greater Caen. It is used every day by 18,000 vehicles, 7% of which are heavy goods vehicles. However, it no longer has the technical capacity to accommodate the traffic that is currently using it. It is showing signs of fatigue and vehicles over 7.5 tonnes have now been banned from using it. Breakdowns are constantly reoccurring, causing major traffic disruption. It is therefore no longer reasonable to maintain a bridge that suffers from random interruptions of service which disrupt both road and canal traffic.
The bridge will therefore be replaced with a new one. This new structure will be the main link between the new residential and commercial development La Presqu’Ile Hérouvillaise and the historic town. It aims to accommodate all the various users (pedestrians, cyclists, drivers) in complete safety while ensuring the proper management of ships using the canal.
In terms of maritime use, the new bridge is going to be similar to the existing one. In other words, it will be a swing bridge operated by Ports of Normandy’s remote control system for all such structures. It will provide a navigation channel that is 40 metres wide and can accommodate all types of vessel likely to pass through the locks at Ouistreham. The clearance gauge under the bridge will be between 4.10 m and 5.50 m so that leisure craft for activities such as rowing, or future river shuttles can pass under without the bridge needing to be opened.
Brief overview
Saint-Pierre Dock is situated at the heart of Caen city centre and accommodates a marina and nautical events. Currently the depth is preventing the marina from operating to its fullest extent, including the hosting of exceptional vessels and racing events. Dredging operations in the dock and its access canal are scheduled for the winter of 2024–25 with the extraction of approximately 30,000 m³ of sediment. The sediment will be decontaminated with a view to using it for landscaping works. The Government must award an environmental permit before the project can get underway. The project has been authorized by prefectoral decrees dated October 11, 2024
In the interim, so the marina could continue to host the Normandy Channel Race, the bottom of the dock was levelled in May 2022 and June 2024. The goal was to move the sediment from the ridged areas to the hollower areas of the dock floor using a levelling bar towed by a tug.
Brief overview
Montalivet Dam was built across the river Orne in 1908 and plays a key role in the operation of the Port of Caen-Ouistreham. It serves to maintain a constant water level in the Orne in order to supply the canal between Caen and the sea so large commercial vessels can access the city.
Conservation of biodiversity
To ensure the ecological coherence of the Orne, animal species must be able to travel freely along its waters and sediment must also be allowed to circulate. The dam must not prevent such movement, but instead facilitate it. Currently the structure is too selective and does not ensure free passage for all the species targeted by the regulations, such as eels, Atlantic salmon, sea trout, river trout, sea lamprey, river lamprey, and allis shad.
A necessary adaptation
As a result, the Monatlivet Dam needs to be improved by building a new fish pass to ensure the ecological coherence of the Orne, and to contribute to safeguarding its biodiversity.
The project could benefit from a grant of up to 80% of the cost from the Agence de l’Eau Seine-Normandie as part of the Eau&Climat 2019-2024 programme.