Port of Dunkirk’s box volume damaged by Hurricane Dean

Port of DunkirkÆs box volume damaged by Hurricane Dean    The French Atlantic Coast port of Dunkirk’s container throughput declined 4 percent in 2007 to 197,000 TEUs due to disruption to the banana traffic from the French West Indies caused by Hurricane Dean in August.
   The Port of Dunkirk Authority said container imports and exports were evenly split for the year at 97,000 TEUs (down 7 percent) and 100,000 TEUs (down 1 percent), respectively.
   The port handled 57.1 million metric tons of general cargo in the year, a 1 percent gain over 2006 and the sixth consecutive annual record. Imports reached 41.1 million metric tons, up 2 percent, with exports down by the same margin to 16 million metric tons.
   The port authority has set an investment plan of 54.7 million euros ($80.3 million) in 2008.