The port of Marseilles has reported that passenger traffic over the first five months of 2009 slipped 4 percent to 476,000 despite outstanding results in the cruise sector. While Corsica and North Africa ferry passenger traffic dropped 12 percent to 318,000, cruise lines delivered a 19 percent increase with 158,000 passengers. This included 91,000 passengers and 40 cruise calls in May alone, which featured five calls by the 3,500-passenger MSC vessel Fantasia.

In other news, The port of Marseilles Fos is preparing its initial contribution to a European Union-funded project in which key ports are working to develop a common approach to simulation-based training.