Port Boulogne Calais

What Port Boulogne Calais does

Port Boulogne Calais is a French port authority (operated by SEPD, Société d'Exploitation des Ports du Détroit) that manages two strategically positioned ports — Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer — under a unified governance structure. The organization oversees cross-Channel passenger ferry services connecting Calais to Dover (England), freight ferry operations for accompanied and unaccompanied cargo at both ports, intermodal freight combining rail and maritime platforms, and a vertically integrated fishing industry ecosystem at Boulogne-sur-Mer spanning physical and online fish auctions, cold storage, processing, equipment services, and research/training facilities. Supporting offerings include services to ships, goods, and carriers, general cargo handling, duty-free retail at Calais, and conference room rentals.

The company's customer base spans four primary segments: individual travelers on passenger ferries, freight and logistics companies moving goods across the Channel, commercial fishing operators and processors using Boulogne-sur-Mer's seafood infrastructure, and transport carriers requiring port services. Revenue is generated through transaction-based fees across ferry crossings, port handling charges, auction commissions, cold storage rentals, equipment leasing, and intermodal platform services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Port Boulogne Calais's primary competitive positioning rests on its geographic advantage as the closest French port to England, its regulated port authority status controlling strategic maritime infrastructure, and the unique-in-Europe concentration of fishing industry expertise at Boulogne-sur-Mer. The organization recently extended its geographic reach into Ireland through a partnership with Hibernia Line, launching a new Boulogne-Cork passenger ferry route scheduled for June 2026 with six weekly departures.

Name

Port Boulogne Calais

Legal name

Port Boulogne Calais

Website

https://portboulognecalais.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Port Boulogne Calais is a French port authority operating the ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, providing passenger ferries (Calais-Dover, Boulogne-Cork), freight and intermodal logistics, fishing industry services (auction, processing, storage), and port services to travelers, shippers, fishers, and carriers across France, the UK, and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Water Transportation (483), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ferry Terminal, Port & Passenger Handling Services (THAEAGAJ), Ferry & Passenger Water Transport Operators (TLAFAAAN)

Keywords

• Maritime port operations
• Passenger ferry services
• Freight logistics services
• Fishing port services
• Intermodal transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Calais

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Operations: Revenue generated from ferry crossings for passengers traveling between Calais-Dover and Boulogne-Cork routes. Includes duty-free sales opportunities.
2. Freight and Cargo Services: Port fees and handling charges for freight ferries including export and import operations at Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer ports.
3. Fishing Industry Services: Auction fees for fish sales, cold storage and warehousing charges, equipment rental, and processing facilities for the fishing sector.
4. Intermodal Logistics: Rail and maritime platform services for combined transport solutions including railway services and maritime freight solutions.
5. Port Services: Services to goods, ships, and carriers including vessel services, cargo handling equipment, and facility rentals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Port Boulogne Calais is a public port authority managing the ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. It provides passenger ferry services (Calais-Dover to England and the new Boulogne-Cork to Ireland route via Hibernia Line), freight ferry operations for cross-Channel export and import, intermodal logistics combining rail and maritime platforms, fishing industry services including a fish auction with online bidding, processing, cold storage, and research/training, as well as general cargo handling and ancillary services to ships, carriers, and goods.

Product overview

Port Boulogne Calais operates as a dual-port authority managing Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer ports. The portfolio comprises ferry passenger services (Calais-Dover and Boulogne-Cork routes), freight ferry and intermodal logistics, fishing industry operations (including auction, processing, storage, and research), and general cargo handling. Supporting services include ship services, carrier services, goods handling, room rentals, and duty-free retail. The offering functions as a unified port infrastructure platform serving both passenger travel and commercial freight/fisheries industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hibernia LinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2026Hibernia Line operates the new ferry service between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Cork, Ireland, departing 6 times per week. This partnership enables the port to offer cross-Channel connections to Ireland, launching June 2026.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CMA CGM: Global container shipping group with terminal operations across French and European ports. Comparable as a major French maritime/logistics incumbent operating port infrastructure and supply-chain services.
• Grand Port Maritime de Marseille: Major French public port authority handling freight, passengers, and cruise across Mediterranean and global trade routes. Comparable as a large French port authority with diversified revenue streams, though different geography.

Others

• P&O Ferries: UK-based ferry operator historically active on the Calais-Dover route. Comparable as a Channel ferry operator whose commercial decisions directly affect PBC's Calais passenger and freight volumes.
• DFDS: Major European ferry and logistics operator active on cross-Channel routes. Comparable as a Channel ferry/logistics provider that interfaces with — and competes for — port calls at PBC.
• Brittany Ferries: French-headquartered ferry operator connecting France to UK and Ireland. Operates passenger ferries that call at French ports; analogous commercial customer/competitor on passenger cross-Channel routes.

Direct peers

• HAROPA Port: France's largest port complex (Le Havre, Rouen, Paris) — a comparable French public port authority offering freight, logistics, and intermodal services, though focused on Atlantic/Seine rather than Channel.
• Port of Dover: The UK's primary cross-Channel port directly paired with Calais on the Dover-Calais route. Operates ferry terminals, freight handling, and cruise services — the closest functional mirror to PBC's Calais operations.
• Port of Zeebrugge: Belgian port offering cross-Channel ro-ro freight and passenger services to the UK. Competes with Calais for unaccompanied trailer and freight volumes on similar Channel trade lanes.
• Getlink (Eurotunnel): Operator of the Channel Tunnel rail link between France and the UK. Provides an alternative cross-Channel crossing that competes directly with PBC's ferry freight and passenger services.
• Port of Dunkirk: French Channel port handling freight, passenger ferries, and industrial bulk — a direct competitor for cross-Channel cargo volumes and a comparable French public port authority structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Port_BC
• Facebookfacebook.com/PortBoulogneCalais
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port-boulogne-calais

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port Boulogne Calais