How are Investments in the Port of Bordeaux Financed?
Investments mainly concern infrastructure, therefore territorial development (quays, land given over to industrial development…). For this reason they are financed by the Port with the help of the State, the local government authorities and the European Union. In this regard, the Contract Plan 2000 – 2006 which defines the major regional priorities with regard to equipment, reserved a budget of nearly 70 million €uros for port infrastructure in the Bordeaux region, which is allocated as follows : br>
  • Self financing : 23,31 millions
  • State : 9,14 millions
  • Aquitaine Regional Council : 11,43 millions
  • Gironde General Council : 10,03 millions
  • Bordeaux Urban Community : 3,43 millions
  • European Union : 11,17 millions
  • SNCF (railways) : 0,15 million.
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    Does the Port of Bordeaux Cater for Pleasure Craft?
    Catering for pleasure craft does not correspond to one of the assignments of the Port of Bordeaux. It nevertheless manages the Bassins à flots(enclosed docks) site, close to the town centre, where permanent and temporary moorings are available, as well as cranage and wintering facilities. Within the context of the current Contract Plan, some 9 million euros is scheduled to be invested to convert it into a real yachting harbour, with the financial support of the Local Authorities, the State and Europe. The Port for its part will invest 2.71 M€.
    There is a municipal yachting harbour at Pauillac (tel : 33 (0)5 56 59 12 16), on the Medoc banks of the Gironde, some 45 km from Bordeaux, which offers 150 berths, 20 of which are for visitors and a further private one at Bordeaux : le Point du Jour (tel : 33(0)5 56 50 84 14), at the foot of the Aquitaine Bridge. Both have supplies of water and electricity on the quays, have sanitary facilities, as well as providing facilities for cranage and careening.

    Finally, there are various nautical stopping places close to Bordeaux. This is the case at :
    Ambès (tel :33 ( 0)5 56 77 11 35) : visitors mooring rings, public telephone, dustbins, shops
    Lormont (tel : 33 (0)5 57 77 63 27) : permanent and visitors mooring rings, sanitary facilities, public telephone, dustbins, shops, cranage, wintering facilities.
    Cadaujac (tel : 33 (0)5 56 30 71 38) : permanent and visitors mooring rings, sanitary facilities, water and electricity on the berth, public telephone, shops.
    Langoiran (tel : 33 (0)5 56 67 21 23) : visitors mooring rings, public telephone, dustbins, shops.br> Portets (tel : 33 (0)5 56 67 17 75) : permanent and visitors mooring rings, water and electricity on the berth, dustbins, and shops.
    Bègles (tel : 33 (0)5 56 49 88 88) : permanent and visitors mooring rings, water and electricity on the berth, dustbins, and shops.
    Cadillac (tel : 33 (0)5 57 98 02 10) : visitors mooring rings, sanitary facilities, water and electricity on the quay, public telephone, dustbins, shops.
    Saint-Pierre d'Aurillac (tel : 33 (0)5 56 63 30 27) : visitors mooring rings, sanitary facilities, and dustbins.
    Castets : waiting berths.
    In addition, Port-Bloc, a service port located at the tip of the Médoc, at Le Verdon, cannot cater at present for touring pleasure craft. It is to be complemented by Port-Médoc which will be accessible at all tides and at any time. It will provide 800 mooring rings (permanent and temporary), fuel, water and electricity, sanatary facilities, watch keppers and shops. The building contract having been given to Guintoli Marine, Port-Médoc should be completed by mid-2004 whilst its marketing has already begun (tel : 33 (0)0 800 505 404).

    Are port activities compatible with the protection of the environment on the largest estuary in Europe ?
    First it should be stressed that sea transport is the safest the most economic and the least polluting mode of transport ; a ship uses 6 times less fuel on average per ton transported than a train and 10 times less fuel that a lorry. The Port of Bordeaux’s annual traffic figures are the equivalent of that of 400 000 lorries.
    In addition, the Port of Bordeaux, which has a department of environmental, development and urbanisation studies, has developed an environmental policy guided by the precautionary principle. In this way it intends to reconcile the development of its activities with the preservation of the estuary milieu (way of life, ecological wealth and cultural heritage).

    In this regard, for several years, in partnership with the General Council, and various associations, the Port :
  • Protects natural areas such as the Isle of Macau
  • Contributes to the plans being made to enhance the ecological value of Nouvelle Island.


    • In liaison with the Regional Department of the Environment, the Port :
  • Carried out environmental audits at Le Verdon and Blanquefort-Parempuyre
  • - Studied with the Higher Council of Fishing and associations, the template for an opening in a dyke to facilitate the movement of migratory fish


    • Furthermore, it regularly monitors the quality of water and sediments in both the estuary and the Garonne.

    Finally, together with SOGREAH, it has launched a European research project to study the influence of climatic change on coastal erosion.

    Can one visit the Port of Bordeaux ?
    Various companies offer river trips :

    departures from Bordeaux, embarking at Quinconces :
  • Aliénor Loisirs (tel : 33 (0)5 56 51 27 90 : fax : 33 (0)5 56 52 17 67) offers both fixed circuits and services to order (maximum capacity : 220 people)
  • The vessel Ville de Bordeaux (tel et fax : 33 (0)35 56 52 88 88) offers a daily trip from 15.00 to 16.30 hours.In July and August, on Mondays and Thursdays (departure 15h00), commentated boat trip "The History of Bordeaux Recounted by its River".
  • Evolution Garonne (tel : 33 (0)6 07 19 75 86) has two boats, (one with a maximum capacity for 74 people while the other caters for 10 people) they work only by appointment


    • departures from Le Verdon (Port Bloch) :
  • - From March to November, La Bohème II (tel : 33 (0)5 56 09 62 93, fax : 33 (0)5 56 09 65 13, web site : www.vedettelaboheme.com) can organise a visit by appointment:Sea and Gironde estuary boat trip, visits to the Cordouan Lighthouse.


    • In addition, for technical or economic visits, the Port of Bordeaux can, on request, organise on shore visits during opening hours for groups of up to 30 people maximum. They must be adult and accompanied by a bus. (tel : 33 (0)5 56 90 59 95).

    When are the next cruise liners due to call ?
    In our country, the season starts in Spring and finishes during the automn. The provisional schedules (date, berth…) is accessible through the web on www.port-of-call.com.