In the coming years, the port built in 1860 is expected to get a fresh lease on life. Following the announcement of the creation of a marine protected area last week, the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, detailed his plans for the city’s port during the 16th edition of the Sea Economic Conference.
His objective: to make this port an “economic attraction and a place for environmental protection.”
During the first day of the Sea Economic Conference, the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, revisited his “blue economy” project on Tuesday, which includes the redevelopment of the port. The goal: to rejuvenate it ecologically and economically, with a strong measure on eco-tax.
Among the measures, the creation of a marine protected area off the coast of Nice, and a bonus-malus system for vehicles using the ferries.
A standout measure from his roadmap for the “blue economy” is the “polluter-pays” principle, with an eco-tax of 60 euros for each car boarding a ferry. Vehicles that pollute as much as the ship itself: one ton of CO2 for each entry and exit of vehicles.
Another important element: the creation of a protected maritime area “from the airport to the Cape of Nice,” which he mentioned last Friday. This will notably prevent cruise ships from anchoring within this area.
“It’s about ensuring that land and sea have virtuous arrangements, a virtuous circle, and at the same time, it serves growth, employment, and economic development.”
