Around EUR 75 million could be spent on modernising Saint-Malo’s ferry port over the next years.
Last week, councillors from Ille-et-Villaine region, who are proposing the new project, announced that the current facilities were ageing and no longer able to support future increase of passenger traffic.
They added that work would be necessary to support cruise ship tourism's development in the walled city.
The council also noted that several cross-channel ferry linies were looking at renewing their fleets with faster and larger ships not suitable for the current ferry port.
According to Le Telegramme newspaper, Brexit formed consideration for the representatives of the region, who claimed that it could result in the building of new customs facilities.
Constructed in 1978, Saint-Malo’s ferry terminal has to undergo serious improvements in order to bring it in line with new regulations and comfort standards.
The problem will also force companies, whose ships are becoming larger, to reduce their visits by 25%, reducing the attractiveness of using the cruise port.
If approved, construction could begin as early as 2021. The project is due to be completed by 2024.