Situated one hour away from the world’s busiest shipping route of the Pas de Calais/Dover Straits, the port of Dunkirk extends over 17 km of seafront. It is divided into two great areas. The Eastern Port is accessible via locks and can accommodate ships of up to 130 000 tons. It includes the Freycinet Docks and the Sea Dock. The Western Port, created in the early 1970s 13 km away from the entrance of the Eastern Port, is accessible directly from the sea to ships with a draught of 20.50 m. Specialized terminals have been installed there such as the container terminal, the bulk terminal and the ferry terminal, The overall traffic amounted to 54.5 million tons in 2006.
Map: Port of Dunkirk Authorities.
Further to the enforcement of the International Security Code, a great part of the port has been closed to the public. However they can still go for a walk or a ride in the Eastern Port and watch the manoeuvres of the ships entering the port, from the quayside or from the top of the Dunkirk Lighthouse.
The inhabitants love to go sunbathing on the beautiful beach along the 7 km long Braek Dyke, a kind of ‘no man’s land’ with on one side, the sea as far as the eyes can see and on the other, the fumes of the huge steel plant.
Photos by Jens Fink-Jensen. All rights reserved.
