Autonomous port

An autonomous port (or independent port) (French: port autonome) is a state-owned enterprise or an organization managing a port area, with a legal entity and enjoying managerial autonomy vis-à-vis its supervision. In general, autonomous ports are state-run. In France, either the state authorities,regional authorities,or local authorities are responsible for the port facilities. If the country allows, these ports can potentially own their land and maritime domain. This type of organization may operate its own tools and terminals, but these are often concessioned to a private port operator. It is rare for a port to run itself; the job is generally given to independent organizations, but they have strong links to the authority, and are still referred to as "autonomous ports" in French-speaking countries.

In the French system, this type of port is a public institution of the State jointly exercising administrative and public service missions and industrial and commercial public service missions. Autonomous ports are managed as "public establishments of industrial and commercial character" (French: établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial ( acronymized as "EPIC")). Under the supervision of the French Ministry of Transport, it enjoys considerable autonomy of management, like any public institution in the country.

Autonomous ports handle the port facilities located within its district (river or sea). They are responsible for the operation and the harbor police, works of extension and improvement, and also manages its property, which can be important. French autonomous ports are allocated land they occupy, unlike the major seaports who now own (except for the natural area).

In France, the autonomous port status was established by a 1920 law and was applied originally to a port in Bordeaux and a port in Le Havre. Following reforms in 1965, four other ports were created (Dunkerque, Rouen, Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, Marseille).the port in La Rochelle was created in 2006.

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