The river service operated by Marfret between Le Havre, Rouen, and Gennevilliers enters a new phase with the commissioning of the Kraken, a 250-TEU self-propelled vessel. This change anticipates the upcoming opening of the “chatière,” a future channel directly connecting Port 2000, which will optimize river rotations to this strategic terminal.
A pioneering modal shift service
Since 2005, Marfret has offered a high-performance, environmentally friendly alternative to road transport along the Seine corridor. Each year, this service removes the equivalent of 10,000 trucks from the roads, helping reduce CO₂ emissions and ease congestion on major Île-de-France highways. The Lydia provided this service for over a decade with three weekly rotations, supporting the growth of trade along the Seine.
A vessel designed for the future
The Kraken, a 250-TEU river self-propelled vessel, marks a key milestone in servicing the Seine. More compact than its predecessor and specifically designed for inland navigation, it offers greater operational flexibility and optimizes fixed costs while maintaining service quality and regularity. Thanks to careful coordination, the Kraken received Port 2000 certification upon entering service, ensuring immediate continuity of operations.
With the deployment of the Kraken, Marfret is driving a strategic evolution of its river service. The company is proactively responding to structural changes along the Seine corridor and adapting its offering to meet both current and future client needs.