port autonome de papeete

What port autonome de papeete does

Port Autonome de Papeete is a public port authority (Établissement Public à Caractère Industriel et Commercial - EPIC) established in 1962 under French Polynesian government deliberation, operating the territory's primary maritime gateway at Motu Uta in Papeete, Tahiti. The organization functions as a territorial public service entity providing comprehensive port services across international cargo shipping, inter-island ferries, cruise tourism, commercial fishing, and pleasure craft/yachting. It is governed by a Board of Directors and Port Council under French Polynesian government oversight, not a private commercial enterprise.

The port's operational footprint includes a main complex with container quays, coastal quays, ocean ship quays, a dedicated cruise terminal, a fishing quay, and a cale de halage (ship lift) operational since 1951, complemented by a network of five marinas across French Polynesia: Marina Taina (Punaauia, with Pavillon Bleu certification since 2012), Marina de Papeete, Marina de Vaiare (Moorea, 120 berths), Marina de Uturoa (Raiatea, 190+ berths, 72,000 m²), and Marina Apooiti (Raiatea). Its digital infrastructure centers on the FETIA platform (Facilitation des Échanges et du Traitement des Informations Administratives), which digitizes port administrative procedures, complemented by real-time boat forecast services and e-services for access badge management and nautical operations.

Revenue is generated through a regulated tariff structure (Guide des tarifs) covering port fees, berthing charges, maritime service fees, port domain leasing, and marina berth subscriptions, with pricing varying by vessel category (commercial cargo, cruise, ferries, pleasure craft) and billing cadence (per-transaction for commercial traffic, monthly subscriptions for marina berths and parking). The customer base spans global shipping lines (CMA-CGM, MSC, Maersk), major cruise operators (Royal Caribbean, Paul Gauguin, Windstar, Celebrity, Holland America), inter-island transport operators (CPTM, Société de Navigation Polynésienne), yacht agencies (SEAL Superyachts, Tahiti Ocean), and fishing operators. The port is not venture-backed, has no parent company, and operates with a lean headcount of 32 employees.

Name

port autonome de papeete

Legal name

Port Autonome de Papeete

Website

https://portdepapeete.pf

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Port Autonome de Papeete is a French Polynesian government-chartered public port authority operating the territory's primary maritime gateway at Papeete, handling international cargo, cruise tourism, inter-island ferries, fishing, and a five-marina yachting network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Authority Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), 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

Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration (TLAHAFAI), Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA), Ferry & Domestic Passenger Terminal Operations (TLAHAEAB), Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB)

Keywords

• Port authority services
• Maritime infrastructure
• Cruise terminal operations
• Container cargo handling
• Marina berth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Papeete

HQ country

French Polynesia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Port Fees and Berthing Charges: Revenue generated from port fees, berthing charges, and maritime service fees assessed to vessels calling at the port including cargo ships, cruise vessels, ferries, fishing vessels, and pleasure craft.
2. Domain Portuaire (Port Area Management): Revenue from management and leasing of port domain including commercial spaces, warehouses, and operational areas within the port perimeter.
3. Cruise Terminal Operations: Revenue from dedicated cruise terminal facilities and services supporting international cruise ship operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Port Autonome de Papeete operates and manages port infrastructure at Motu Uta in Papeete, providing ship reception services, cruise terminal operations, international container and cargo handling, inter-island ferry and cargo redistribution, vessel maintenance via the Cale de Halage ship lift, and management of the port domain. It also operates five marinas across Tahiti, Moorea, and Raiatea serving pleasure craft and superyachts, supported by the FETIA digital platform for administrative formalities.

Product overview

Port Autonome de Papeete is a public establishment managing maritime infrastructure in French Polynesia. Its portfolio consists of port management services (ship services, cruises, international and inter-island trade, slipway, and port domain management) and a network of five marinas (Taina, Papeete, Vaiare, Uturoa, and Apooiti). The digital offering centers on the FETIA platform for port procedure digitization, complemented by boat forecasting services and e-services. The port also provides auxiliary services including parking, badge/access management, and tariff guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FETIA: Digital platform (Facilitation des Échanges et du Traitement des Informations Administratives) dedicated to the digitization and security of port procedures, serving as a unified digital portal for users, institutional partners, and economic operators.
• Marina Taina
• Marina de Papeete
• Marina de Vaiare
• Marina de Uturoa
• Marina Apooiti

Products and services

• FETIA Digital Platform Digital platform (Facilitation des Échanges et du Traitement des Informations Administratives) dedicated to dematerialization and security of port procedures; serves as a unified digital portal centralizing administrative formalities for users, institutional partners, and economic operators.
• Services aux Navires (Ship Services) Ship reception and operational support services including port maneuvering organization, access to infrastructure, and coordination of technical, logistical, and administrative services for vessels calling at the port.
• Croisières (Cruise Terminal Operations) Cruise ship reception services including arrival and departure organization, passenger management, and coordination with transport services and local economic actors for international cruise vessels.
• Commerce International (International Trade) Handling of international maritime traffic including container ships, cargo vessels, tankers, and gas carriers, supported by dedicated infrastructure and specialized equipment.
• Commerce Interinsulaire (Inter-Island Trade) Inter-island trade services ensuring territorial continuity and economic balance of French Polynesia through redistribution of goods to all archipelagos.
• Cale de Halage (Slipway/Ship Lift)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 years of continuous port operations supporting French Polynesia's maritime continuity
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• French Polynesia GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 1962The port operates as an EPIC (Établissement Public à Caractère Industriel et Commercial) established by government deliberation n°62-2 of January 5, 1962. The French Polynesia government maintains governance through the Board of Directors (Conseil d'administration) and Port Council (Conseil portuaire).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DP World: Global port operator providing container terminal management, marine services, and digital port platforms — relevant comparable for scale, digital services (e.g., port community systems analogous to FETIA), and cargo handling capabilities.
• PSA International: Global container terminal operator with cruise and multi-purpose port capabilities — useful broad-incumbent comparable for terminal operations, vessel handling, and digital transformation.

Emerging players

• IGY Marinas (Island Global Yachting): Global superyacht marina operator with locations across the Pacific and Caribbean — relevant peer for benchmarking superyacht services, berth quality, and Blue Flag-equivalent environmental standards.
• Camper & Nicholsons Marinas: International marina operator and developer relevant for benchmarking marina management, berth subscription models, and superyacht/yachting services that PAP provides across its five-marina network.

Direct peers

• Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique: French overseas port authority in Martinique, structurally analogous to PAP as a French-territory EPIC managing cargo, cruise, and marina operations in a Caribbean island context.
• Fiji Ports Corporation: Pacific island public port operator handling international container, cruise, and inter-island services — closely comparable role, scale, and customer segments to PAP.
• Port Authority of New Caledonia (GPMNC): Direct peer — French Pacific territory port authority with similar mix of international cargo, inter-island traffic, cruise, and marina services, sharing customer overlap and regulatory framework.
• Samoa Ports Authority: Small Pacific island public port authority managing international and inter-island maritime services for a similarly sized territory — structurally analogous mandate and scale.

Regional players

• Port of Honolulu (Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors): Mid-Pacific island port authority handling cruise, container, and marina/ferry operations — comparable activity mix and Pacific cruise-market exposure, although on a different scale.
• Ports of Auckland: Multi-purpose regional port authority in the Pacific handling cruise, container, and marina/ferry services — comparable mix of activities in a different but adjacent Pacific geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PortAutonomedePapeete
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port-autonome-de-papeete

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 autonome de papeete