Le Havre has reported a nearly 50 percent increase in passengers for 2010, with 130,000 on 70 ship calls, compared to 87,200 passengers in 2009.

This year, Costa Crociere will also turn-around in Le Havre, embarking and disembarking passengers.

The port also reported growth in other areas for 2010, including containers, container in-land transportation, chemicals and ro-ro traffic. More than 340,000 cars and heavy vehicles came through the port facilities in 2010, that is 30 percent more than the previous year.

In addition, ferry traffic between Le Havre and the UK reached 270,000 passengers.

Connecting Europe to the world, 60 percent of Le Havre’s container business is with Asia and 25 percent with the American continent, with a growing share to India, Korea and Brazil.

Le Have also claims record customs service, with all goods cleared in less than 8 minutes, and is the first European port to be ISO 28000 security certified.