The Port of Marseille Fos has announced the awarding of the concession to operate the Fos multibulk terminal, formerly known as the “Fos Ore Terminal,” to HES Fos, a subsidiary of HES International B.V. Following a competitive tendering procedure, the European dry and liquid bulk products operator has secured the rights to further develop infrastructure for dry bulk traffic on the Mediterranean coast.
Strategic Terminal Infrastructure
Located in the western basins of the Port of Marseille Fos, the multibulk terminal concession encompasses 35 hectares, with provision for gradual expansion to 66 hectares. The facility features three berths totalling 880 linear metres with permissible draughts ranging from 12.50 to 16.70 metres, complemented by a 150-metre-long barge berth.
The 30-year minimum concession covers the organisation, operation, and maintenance of the terminal, alongside investments in infrastructure dedicated to non-food solid bulk products and blending operations. HES Fos has committed to modernising the facilities whilst developing traffic in a logical and sustainable manner.
Ensuring Operational Continuity
The concession agreement ensures continuity of operations at the essential terminal whilst preserving the valuable expertise present on site—both key priorities for the port authority. HES has also committed to safeguarding employment for dockers and on-site staff, reinforcing its dedication to the local community and workforce.
Hervé Martel, chairman of the board of the Port of Marseille Fos, emphasised the strategic significance of the partnership. “This new concession with HES Fos reflects our ambition to make the multi-track terminal a key element for competitiveness and decarbonisation,” Martel said. “It meets our industrial customers’ and shippers’ expectations and is fully in line with our strategy to develop port hubs.”
Supporting Regional Reindustrialisation
Martel highlighted the terminal’s role in broader regional development initiatives, noting that the facility will be central to the Fos-Etang de Berre region’s reindustrialisation projects. “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,” he stated.
Strategic European Gateway Development
Jeroen van der Neut, COO at HES, expressed satisfaction with the appointment and outlined the company’s strategic objectives. “We are very pleased to have been chosen as the operator of the Darse 1 terminal in Fos-sur-Mer,” van der Neut said. “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.”
Van der Neut positioned the concession as a strategic milestone for both HES and regional stakeholders. “This strategic step positions HES as a key player in advancing the ambitions of the Port and industrial stakeholders in the south of France,” he noted, whilst acknowledging the collaborative process that led to the agreement.
The COO extended appreciation to key stakeholders involved in the process. “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,” van der Neut concluded.
Market Position and Future Development
HES International B.V. operates as one of Europe’s leading port infrastructure operators for dry and liquid bulk products, bringing extensive experience to the Marseille Fos operation. The company’s appointment reflects its proven capability in managing complex port operations whilst supporting regional industrial development objectives.
The concession represents a significant development in Mediterranean bulk handling capacity, providing enhanced infrastructure to support both existing operations and future industrial projects across the strategically important Fos-Etang de Berre region.
For more information visit www.hesinternational.eu
