Dunkerque – saved by containers

The decrease was mainly due to the effect of the shutdown of the EoN power plant in the UK, which affected coal traffic, and a first half year that was impacted by the economic recession.

The comparison with 2012 was also negatively affected by the ending of a fourth cross channel ro-ro ship, which had been diverted to Dunkerque due to a strike in the nearby Port of Calais and which had significantly boosted throughput volumes.

However, the subsequent resumption of a three vessel service, although resulting in a drop of 6% to 13.3m tonnes, was still satisfactory according to the port, with a total throughput of 540,000 units (500,000 trucks and trailers).