![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rapport-annuel.expertisefrance.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/XIHiNdT1w50mCYTkdGm9S6T0xPA9jBdee3_-hvEbmtY.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\nWith Omar Itani<\/b>,<\/span>
\nPort of Beirut general director[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ module_class=”person-interview” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”max-width:475px;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”820px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”overflow:hidden;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#273375″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]Now is the time to rebuild the Port of Beirut, Lebanon\u2019s economic hub, through optimized governance and security. As soon as October 2020, Expertise France put together a team whose mission was to support the port\u2019s leadership in designing a safe and modernized site, compliant with international standards. The French team works in coordination with public and private actors, while the ports of Le Havre and Marseilles share their best practices in governance, operations, and port security.
\nThe current 1.2-million-euro support package over two years has three objectives: facilitate strategic discussions and the global reform of port governance, strengthen port safety and security, and support the development of customs computer systems. Those are essential conditions for the site\u2019s proper economic recovery. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”820px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”overflow:hidden;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#273375″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
What has been Expertise France\u2019s contribution over the last few years?<\/h2>\n
The support of the economic department of the French embassy in Lebanon and Expertise France started on the very next day after the explosion. They\u2019ve helped us each month, each week, and sometimes each day to solve many problems. They facilitated contact with consultants for us to be able to conduct the necessary studies and organize the removal of all scrap metal and debris from the port. It\u2019s the first thing to do, while we prepare competitive biddings for the reconstruction engineering plans. Expertise France is helping us assess port safety in collaboration with the ports of Marseille and Le Havre. It\u2019s a first step towards a safer port for people and goods. Thanks to study visits organized in France by the agency\u2019s project manager, we were able to better envision how to coordinate our security services, overall security and customs authorities. The port reconstruction specifications need to meet the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”citation large 820″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”820px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”overflow:hidden;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”citation large” module_class=”text-citation” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Playfair Display||on||||||” text_text_color=”#273375″ text_font_size=”40px” text_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”60px||60px|125px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”60px||60px|125px|true|false” custom_padding_phone=”120px||50px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”27px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_line_height_tablet=”55px” text_line_height_phone=”45px” text_line_height_last_edited=”off|tablet” text_orientation_tablet=”” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” border_width_top=”1px” border_color_top=”#F9B233″ border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#F9B233″ global_colors_info=”{}”]The support of the economic department of the French embassy in Lebanon and Expertise France started on the very next day after the explosion. They\u2019ve helped us each month, each week, and sometimes each day to solve many problems.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”820px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”overflow:hidden;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#273375″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
For the Port of Beirut to meet international standards, what steps should be taken next in port governance, security, and safety?<\/h2>\n
The Port of Beirut is committed to meeting international standards in these areas. We work with international companies such as CMA-CGM and with experts deployed by France, such as engineers from Artelia and Egis.<\/p>\n
We are also preparing our new port security and safety as outlined by the most recent ISPS and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) guidelines. In terms of security, controlling access to the port is essential and we must improve in this area. The agency has supported us in this process, by assisting us through the signing of a cooperation agreement with the port of Marseille a few years ago. We went there with Expertise France to see how operators and contractors worked and how security was organized: access control, cameras, fences, scanners, and the interface between the port and the city. For the new Port of Beirut, we aim to strengthen fraud detection, in collaboration with customs authorities, using additional scanners for containers.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”image large caption” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100vw” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/rapport-annuel.expertisefrance.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/9965-scaled.jpg” title_text=” ” align=”center” module_class=”border-texture image-large” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”1024px” module_alignment=”center” custom_css_main_element=”margin-left: auto;||margin-right: auto;||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”820px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”overflow:hidden;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Corps de texte” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#273375″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
On 13 March 2024, the Port of Beirut presented its reconstruction plan, designed with France\u2019s assistance, mostly with the help of the regional economic department of the French embassy in Beirut and Expertise France. What does the plan entail?<\/h2>\n
We are working on multiple projects simultaneously. After clearing the debris of the explosion, our objective was to build a modernized port, with a wider range of installations. We want to increase port capacity and deepen one of the docks to 13 meters. We have an area on Mole 1 dedicated to a new passenger terminal and will launch a bid to find its operator. We left space for storage silos. We also aim to build new warehouses and establish a roll-on\/roll-off terminal.<\/p>\n
For all these projects, Expertise France and the French embassy are supporting us by mobilising entities like Artelia and Egis to help us define the bids\u2019 technical specifications. Some are completed, others are still on stand-by. We are working together as one team for the rebirth of the Port of Beirut.<\/p>\n