Dunkerque Port
Dunkirk, a port resolutely looking to the future
A dynamic, multi-purpose port, Dunkirk is a key player on Europe's seafront. The port's economic, social and societal performance actively contributes to the attractiveness of the Dunkirk area. Its annual added value is €3.8 billion, generating more than 30,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs. New developments in the industrial port zone will create 20,000 new jobs by 2030, consolidating Dunkirk's position as a major economic hub.
Dunkirk's dense, high-performance ecosystem brings together maritime, logistics and industrial activities. With its strong ambition, the port is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, based on an economic model structured around several major axes:
Energy excellence: Europe's leading energy hub, Dunkirk is home to continental Europe's 2ᵉ largest LNG terminal in terms of volumes handled. The port plays a key role in the exchange and production of low-carbon and transitional energies.
A benchmark low-carbon industrial-port zone: Dunkirk is building a unique synergy between industrial development and environmental performance, to become a European model for industrial decarbonisation.
Container development: Able to receive the world's largest container ships without tidal constraints, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Dunkirk has tripled its container traffic in ten years. A second container terminal will be operational in 2029, with the aim of doubling the capacity for handling containerised flows.
Strategic connections with the United Kingdom and Ireland: Positioned at the entrance to the Strait, Dunkirk offers an efficient service for ferries and roll-on/roll-off vessels, particularly to Dover (United Kingdom) and Rosslare (Ireland).
An ambitious logistics drive: 400,000 m² of warehousing space will be developed by 2028. Dunkirk has established itself as a key logistics hub for the food industry, particularly for temperature-controlled products, and has 330,000 tonnes of grain storage capacity.
A region at the heart of European electric mobility: Dunkirk is the nerve centre of the Hauts-de-France battery valley. The establishment of a business dedicated to the logistics and export of electric vehicles strengthens this sector of excellence.
A port committed to the environment
Dunkerque-Port is firmly committed to sustainable development, ecological transition and the preservation of biodiversity. Its approach closely combines economic ambition and environmental responsibility, at the service of an area undergoing major transformation. Working closely with all the public and private players in the region, the port is building a resilient ecosystem that creates sustainable value throughout the region and beyond.
Pioneering action in favour of biodiversity: In 2010, Dunkirk became the first port in France to draw up a Natural Heritage Master Plan (Schéma Directeur du Patrimoine Naturel - SDPN). This innovative approach aims to reconcile economic development with the preservation of natural habitats and biological corridors. Today, 1,000 hectares have been set aside to protect wetlands and biodiversity in the port area.
Decarbonising logistics chains: The Port of Dunkirk is actively committed to decarbonising logistics chains. In 2020, it was the first port in Europe to equip its container terminal with a quayside electricity connection system, reducing emissions from ships in port. By 2030, recharging stations will be installed for the future electric ferries on the Dunkirk-Dover line. At the same time, the port is strengthening its multimodal offering with the commissioning, from 2026, of a piggyback terminal facilitating rail/road transhipment. The opening of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal by 2030 will complete these facilities and strengthen regional and European river links. The port is pursuing its strategy, resolutely focused on more sustainable flow logistics.
Our partnership with Les Voiles de Légende 2025
Dunkerque-Port is proud to be a partner of the Voiles de Légende 2025, an emblematic event that strongly celebrates the maritime identity of our region.
Hosting more than 40 tall ships from 10 to 13 July 2025 is much more than just an exceptional show: it's a living tribute to Dunkirk's port history and its deep connection with the sea. This partnership is fully in line with our desire to promote our maritime heritage, while at the same time affirming our core business: guaranteeing operational excellence in the service of ships and goods. As such, the mobilisation of the port community will be essential to orchestrate the reception of these majestic sailing ships in the best possible conditions and contribute to the success of the event.
Joining this internationally renowned adventure, alongside the Dunkerque Urban Community and all those involved, is a proud reaffirmation of our commitment to promoting Dunkerque and its port, both here and beyond our borders.