Fos sees 10% rise in box volume

Fos sees 10% rise in box volume    The container terminal of Fos, part of France’s port of Marseilles-Fos, handled 493,000 TEUs in January-November, a 9.8-percent increase on the corresponding period in 2002.
   The port said the increase in volume came as it prepared to negotiate with bidders of the “Fos 2XL” public-private expansion project.
   The port authority of Marseilles-Fos is awaiting French government approval of funding proposals for the project. Under the proposals, a total of 175 million euros ($216 million) for dredging and construction of 1,100 meters of quay would come from the port, government, local authorities and European funds, while private-sector operators would provide matching funds for shoreside investments.
   The port authority aims to present final details of the Fos 2XL project at its board meeting in late March 2004, following a new round of talks with potential bidders. The bidders include Portsynergy — a joint venture between CMA CGM and P&O Ports — as well as APM Terminals and Mediterranean Shipping Co.