Le Figaro Nice
“First of all, my concern is the carbon footprint. First of all, it is energy.” This, in a nutshell, is the course that Christian Estrozzi intends to follow as admiral of the huge project to rebuild the port of Nice.
The mayor of France’s fifth city wants to “Reconnect the port to the city, make it a mecca for the art of living à la niçoise, in line with our classification as a world heritage site and meeting the climate emergency.” The latter thereby means to dismiss from the beginning the rumors according to which Limpia harbor is doomed to become a giant “yacht parking lot”.
Because for some time now, residents and merchants of Nice have been perplexed, even worried, and the opposition, especially environmentalists, have been grumbling. In fact, time is running out and the deadline is approaching: building permits must be submitted early next year. And all the works should start by 2025.
So, objectively, what will be the main port facility of Nice? For the mayor, it is first of all to deal with the essentials. In this case, the restoration of the great mound. “She’s sinking, slowly but surely”he explains Figaro. Therefore, this first “eco-responsible” project consists of consolidating the plot, maintaining its appearance but introducing renewable energy. “It will go through a very complex system with turbines that will generate electricity and geothermal energy.”, continues the aedile. Green energy that should then, in theory, benefit the entire city.
“Growing Economy”
At the same time, the municipality wants to tackle the greening of the harbor by removing the impressive car park on the Quai Amiral Infermet to make way for it. “huge green space”. We are talking about 200 planted trees and 8,500 square meters of greenery around the port, including the upgrading of the Île de Butte square and Emmanuel Island. This is to create islands of freshness in anticipation of upcoming heat waves. In addition, 5,000 square meters will be allocated to the creation of a cultural, technological and scientific center around the ecological transition – “Mediterranean Pavilion”.
However, it is also important for the city to ensure that its port generates enough revenue. “growing economy”, translated by Christian Estrozi. To this day, three main businesses bring life to the port of Nice: Corsica Ferries, concrete transport and small boats and yachts. If the three remain convicted for the time being, the situation may change in favor of “high pleasure“, as the city council calls it. I mean, on a yacht.
“Corsica Ferries boats are now 110 meters long. The next generation, which will come in three to four years, will be 130 meters. So either I make a berth 130 meters away, or I put a dead end and say “there are no more ferries”. We do not intend to invest in 130-meter berths“.
“I’d rather have ten super yachts than ocean liners and cargo ships that pollute the harbor for me and that eat up space for me and that live neither harbor nor city.”
Christian Estrozzi, Mayor of Nice.
Is related Le FigaroCorsica Ferries President Pierre Mattei says “subject to size restrictions in ports” in its investments, without specifying whether discussions had begun with the city of Nice. “There is nothing that says ferries are excluded from the project, as far as we know.” promotions, however, the president of the company. For example, in September 2022 alone, 60 sailings between Corsica and Nice were carried out by Corsica Ferries with a total of 36,383 passengers.
Corsica Ferries or not, the municipality is considering its ambitions to open its port to cruise ships. “I’d rather have ten super yachts than ocean liners and cargo ships that come and pollute the harbor for me and that eat up space for me and that don’t maintain the harbor or the city.counters Christian Estrozi. I choose to keep port authentication. And preserving the authenticity of the port does not correspond to the development of today’s commercial fleet. And that’s a merchant marine officer’s boy telling you so.”– he teases.
“We don’t believe that much in the outflow theory anymore”
The tone of the opposition is much more serious. “Yes, Corsica Ferries’ large boats are a nuisance to local residents. They smoke, pollute, especially during heavy traffic. However, removing everything without providing an alternative means that there will be a plane transfer. However, 25 ATR 72 aircraft will need to take off to replace the Corsica Ferries route, which is an environmental diversion.says Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, president of the city council’s elected environmentalists. The port of Nice does not need a revolution. It is necessary to calm down, especially for traders. People suffered a lot during the tram works.»
In this regard, the municipality guarantees that all works will be carried out by sea, that is, there will be no trucks on the streets. “They want to change the city for us, make it a luxurious postcard continues the elected environmentalist. The ports of Monaco, Cannes or Antibes are already on the coast. And what ? And let no one tell us that these big boats will help create local jobs. It will be on the margins or refer to jobs that already exist in Monaco or Cannes. The second stream theory, we don’t really believe in it anymore.
“Yacht owners, […] They don’t care about small restaurants.”
The opposition is also worried about the project to electrify the piers and limit pollution from yachts. “We don’t have nuclear power plants, wind turbines or solar panels nearby. That the electricity of the people of Nice should not be used for large boats”, notes Juliet Chesnel-Le Roux. And add the selected green. “It is opportunism. “Monaco no longer wants some of its yachts and we will restore the parking of these Monegasque boats to the detriment of public transport between Nice and Corsica.”.
“Yacht owners are customers that will never come to us. They don’t care about small restaurants. While Corsica Ferries customers rush to come and have a bite to eat before or on arrival”bothers the owner of a restaurant on the quai des deux Emmanuels. “What we love is tranquility. And above all, that the yachts don’t spoil our view.”adds creperie owner Chantal passport, at Quai des Deux Emmanuels. The restaurateur was saddened by the sight of the yacht elements, 80 meters long and which rests on the edge of the Admiral Infernet harbor. “You see, because of him, we no longer see anything of what is happening on the contrary. Often there are shows and events, we are deprived of them. And people don’t come to my house anymore because he doesn’t see me. So more yachts in port, no thanks.”
A local pride inseparable from Nice’s heritage, the famous putus, these multicolored nuts once used for fishing still have a bright future ahead of them, the municipality wants to keep them a special place in its port 2.0.
Source: Le Figaro
