HES to operate Marseille multi-bulk terminal

The Port of Marseille Fos announces awarding the concession to operate the Fos multi-bulk terminal, formerly known as the "Fos Ore Terminal", to the operator HES Fos, a subsidiary of HES International B.V., one of the leading European operators of port infrastructure for dry and liquid bulk products. As a result of a competitive tendering procedure, HES Fos is now in a position to support the further development of the infrastructure for dry bulk traffic on the Mediterranean coast.

 

Located in the western basins of the port of Marseille Fos, the concession of the multi-bulk terminal covers 35 hectares, with a gradual extension of the surface area of up to 66 hectares. It has three berths totaling 880 linear meters and a permissible draught of 12.50 to 16.70 meters, as well as a 150-meter-long barge berth.

 

With a minimum duration of 30 years, the concession covers the organization, operation and maintenance of the terminal, as well as the investments in infrastructure dedicated to non-food solid bulk or blending of these products. HES Fos is committed to modernizing the facilities and developing traffic in a logical and sustainability way.

 

By signing this concession, HES and the Port of Marseille Fos ensure the continuity of operations at this essential terminal and preserve the valuable expertise present on site, both key priorities for the port. HES is also proud to safeguard the jobs of the dockers and on-site staff, reinforcing its commitment to the local community and workforce.

 

"This new concession with HES Fos reflects our ambition to make the multi-track terminal a key element for competitiveness and decarbonisation. It meets our industrial customers and shippers expectations and is fully in line with our strategy to develop port hubs. By entrusting this infrastructure to an experienced operator, we are choosing a solid partner to provide a unique facility on the French Mediterranean coast, a facility that will be at the heart of the Fos-Etang de Berre region's reindustrialisation projects, in particular the major projects in the metallurgy/siderurgy sector, Marcegaglia and Gravithy" says Hervé Martel, Chairman of the Board of the Port of Marseille Fos.

 

“We are very pleased to have been chosen as the operator of the Darse 1 terminal in Fos-sur-Mer," says Jeroen van der Neut, Chief Operating Officer at HES. “This decision is fully in line with our development strategy in the major European ports to offer our customers flexibility between the two main gateways to the continent. This strategic step positions HES as a key player in advancing the ambitions of the Port and industrial stakeholders in the south of France. We would like to warmly thank the dockworkers’ union, the port and the French authorities for their trust in HES and their collaboration over the past few months, which has made it possible to reach this important milestone.”

 

HES Fos is expected to be the operator of the terminal as of July 1st, 2025.

 

A major player in international trade, the Port of Marseille Fos welcomes nearly 10,000 ships and 4 million passengers every year, handles more than 70 million tonnes of goods, and is developing 10,400 hectares of land in an environmentally excellent manner.

 

Strategically located on the shores of the Mediterranean and the Rhône delta, it is the only port in this region connected to a wide-gauge river and the natural gateway to Europe. It serves 500 ports worldwide in nearly 160 countries. The Port of Marseille Fos has the space and infrastructure to accommodate maritime, logistics and industrial activities. It can handle a wide range of activities, from import to export of all types of goods (bulk liquids, containers, minerals, food products, etc.). It also boasts 3 million m² of logistics platforms serving international players. Industrial activities such as refining, steelmaking, the chemical industry and ship repair, including the world's third-largest ‘Form 10’, illustrate the diversity of the port's ecosystem. Committed to environmental excellence, the Port of Marseille Fos is betting on sustainable and responsible economic growth. It is reducing the impact of maritime activities on air quality through initiatives such as the electrical connection of ships to the quayside and the fuelling of ships with renewable energy.

 

HES International is Europe's leading operator of port infrastructure for dry and liquid bulk products. Our companies occupy a unique independent position in the bulk supply chain for a wide range of products, offering first-class access to Europe's deep-water terminals and excellent hinterland connectivity by river, rail and road. With 13 terminals located in 4 countries, in strategic ports across Europe, we play a key role in the continuous flow of essential raw materials needed to develop, sustain and improve the world around us. Our professional teams ensure that bulk goods are stored, handled and processed safely, 21 hours a day, 7 days a week, for customers from all over the world. We have a strong ambition to further expand our product portfolio and also to respond optimally to the opportunities offered by the energy transition. HES International is based in Rotterdam and has been carefully handling bulk commodities since 1908. Macquarie Asset Management, through the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, and West Street Infrastructure Partners III, managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management Infrastructure, each indirectly own 50% of HES International B.V.