The Port of Bayonne Joins Green Marine Europe: An Industrial Port in Transition Driven by New Governance

Green Marine Europe continues the deployment of its port framework with the participation of the Port de Bayonne, operated since 2024 by the Société Portuaire Port de Bayonne (SPPB).

A Strategic Industrial Port for Southwestern France and Cross-Border Trade

Located at the mouth of the Adour River in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Port of Bayonne is a key link in regional and cross-border logistics chains. It relies on a dense and diversified industrial ecosystem, with significant traffic related to metallurgy, chemicals, agri-food products and industrial bulk cargo.

With annual traffic exceeding 2 million tonnes, the port confirms its role as a strategic infrastructure serving regional and local economic sectors.

A New Governance Model Supporting Port Development

Since 2024, the port has been operated by the Société Portuaire Port de Bayonne (SPPB), marking a significant evolution in its management model.

This change is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening the port’s overall performance, with clear objectives: modernising infrastructure, consolidating existing industrial sectors and supporting the development of new activities.

Early results point to a positive momentum, with traffic growth returning in 2025 following a transition year, confirming the port’s ability to adapt to industrial and economic cycles.

A Port at the Heart of Industrial and Energy Transitions

The Port of Bayonne is directly exposed to the transformations affecting the European industrial landscape, particularly in the steel, agri-food and energy sectors.

This dependence on industrial cycles results not only in traffic fluctuations, but also in a constant need for adaptation — whether through sector diversification, infrastructure investments or the evolution of logistics models.

In this context, the port is progressively moving towards a transformation pathway integrating decarbonisation and the modernisation of its activities.

Port Challenges at the Core of the European Transition

At the intersection of industry, logistics and territorial development, ports play a structuring role in the transition of the maritime sector.

In this regard, the EU Ports Strategy highlights their central function in the evolution of logistics chains, the decarbonisation of activities and the integration of environmental challenges.

The Green Marine Europe framework provides an operational structure for addressing these issues over the long term through performance indicators and a logic of continuous improvement.

A Strengthening Regional Dynamic in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

With the participation of the Port of Bayonne, Green Marine Europe is reinforcing its presence in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a key territory within the French maritime economy.

This participation is part of a broader regional dynamic notably driven by Aquitania Ports Link, an initiative bringing together the main commercial ports of Nouvelle-Aquitaine with the support of the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, itself a supporter of Green Marine Europe.

In a region characterised by a strong diversity of maritime and port activities, this momentum aims to strengthen the visibility and structuring of the regional port offering at both national and European levels.

It also confirms the growing interest of industrial and regional ports in operational tools enabling them to manage their environmental performance within a shared framework.