Marseilles ro-pax terminal project abandoned

Marseilles ro-pax terminal project abandoned The Port of Marseilles Authority said today that Italian freight and passenger (ro-pax) operator Grandi Navi Veloci has shelved plans to create a dedicated terminal at the French port due to the steep rise in fuel costs and problems related to fleet composition.
   The terminal contract was signed in April but included a two-month escape clause. The new terminal was intended to support large new ships on western Mediterranean services that GNV was expected to launch in November.
   The French port authority said it will now look for new customers for the terminal within the short-sea, roll-on/roll-off, ro-pax and passenger ferry sectors.
   Meanwhile, the port has signaled a long-term, 600 million-euro extension of its cruise and ro-pax facilities in the eastern harbor area to cater for the latest generation of longer vessels.