The port of Rouen: more than two thousand years of history

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  • Around 50 BCE, Greek geographer Strabo wrote that Rouen was a major hub for maritime dealings with England. In Strabo’s view, the Seine was “one of the most beautiful thoroughfares for commerce formed by nature”.

     

  • Rotomagus (the Gallo-Roman name for Rouen) was the base for trade transhipments between the Roman Empire and its Britannia province (present-day Great Britain). However, this era ends when the Vikings reduce the city to ashes (841-842).

     

  • 911: The river now becomes a source of prosperity once again: Rollo and the Plantagenets build warehouses in Rouen for cargo arriving from the Baltic and Mediterranean.

     

  • From the close of the Middle Ages, the port of Rouen also begins to develop direct seagoing trade with Italy.

     

  • From the 15th to the 18th centuries: shipowners and navigators participate, departing from the ports of Rouen and Honfleur, in epic ocean explorations, establishing trade ties with the entire world.

     

  • 31 May 1846: A law is passed for the commencement of works on the Seine navigation channel and estuary. The port’s capacity to accommodate shipping expands.

     

  • 1816: the Elise, the first steamship, calls at the port.

     

  • 1885: the Statue of Liberty is loaded at Rouen for its journey to New York.

     

  • 1918: port traffic expands rapidly during the First World War. At over 10Mt, Rouen becomes France’s biggest port.

     

  • 1941 to 1943: the Second World War reduces port traffic to zero and bombing raids destroy virtually all the port’s infrastructure.

     

  • In the 1950s, a number of port facilities are set up:
    • 1958: Simarex begins operations, and the first Rouen grain export silo is built,
    • 1968: Soufflet, 
    • 1971: MRM (now Sénalia),

    • 2016: Beuzelin (now BZ Group).

       

  • 1960: development of a new navigation channel in the Seine estuary.

     

  • 1974: entry into service of the Radicatel quay.

     

  • 1981: entry into service of Grand-Couronne Quay.

     

  • 2006: launch  of the Rouen sea access improvement programme to enable the port to accommodate the latest generation of bulk carriers.

     

  • 2008: Rouen Port Authority is now designated as “Rouen Major Seaport”.

     

  • 2012: creation of HAROPA as an Economic Interest Grouping comprising the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris.

     

  • 1 June 2021: creation of HAROPA PORT.