Frequently asked question

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the “public domain”?

Grand Port Fluvio-Maritime de l’Axe Seine, or HAROPA PORT, is tasked with:

  • managing and generating value-added from the domain that it owns or of which it is the designated manager,

  • developing and managing industrial and logistics zones linked to port activity.

This means that HAROPA PORT is the owner of a set of assets belonging to the public domain. The public domain corresponds to the property of a public entity tasked with operating the port as a whole. The public domain is managed in compliance with rules set out in the French General Code of Public Property (Code Général de la Propriété des Personnes Publiques – CGPPP), which defines the types of contracts and the procedures for their award, determination of their term of validity and the financial conditions they stipulate.

2. How are offers related to the public domain identified on the Haropa Real Estate website?

Offers that fall within the HAROPA PORT public domain and are subject to conditions governing the award of contracts by the port complex are identified by a blue banner at the top left of the description panel. The other offers, designated as “Partner” offers, are identified by a green banner. You can make a distinction between these categories of offers in your search criteria on the advanced search page by activating the “Property Manager” filter.

3. How can you set up your operation on the port domain?

You will find our “terms and conditions for contract award” on the dedicated web page

4. How is property belonging to the HAROPA PORT public domain managed?

Management of HAROPA PORT assets is geographically split between three Territorial Departments in Le Havre, Rouen and Paris.

5. How is the term of an occupancy agreement set?

The term of occupancy is set so as to avoid restrictions on free access to the public domain and in accordance with the occupant’s investment needs, while at the same time permitting a fair return on the capital invested. The duration is adjusted on a case-by-case basis and will therefore depend on the business plan provided by the occupant. The occupant’s investment must have been amortised by the end of the term of the site occupancy agreement. Investments taken into account in calculating theduration of site occupancy are as follows:

  • Initial investments related to realestate, buildings and constructions erected on the site, industrial processes included.
  • Investments that are to be made during occupancy as required for operation of the site covered bythe occupancy agreement.

6. Is it possible to make further investmentsduring the term of the occupancy agreement and benefit thereby from anextension of the occupancy period?

New investment during the term of the occupancyagreement can be considered subject to adherence to the conditions set outbelow, in order to guarantee free access to the public domain:

  • Any request for new investment mustbe made no later than two years prior to the end of the term of the occupancyagreement.
  • The plan for the new investmentmust first be publicly advertised on the present website.
  • In the event of submission of a competingproject, the occupant proposing a plan for new investment can either withdraw thenew investment proposal or, alternatively, a selection procedure directed atidentifying the best project will be undertaken by HAROPA PORT.

7. How is the amount of the rental payment determined?

Go to our tariff brochure to see the different applicable rental categories.

8. Is it possible to secure an investment in the public domain by using financial guarantees?

To obtain security for the financing of buildings and immoveable property installed on the public domain, it is possible for the occupant to enjoy priority rights. In that case, the occupancy agreement must be formally published in the land register.

9. Can a site occupant sublet its property on the public domain?

Subletting of property provided by HAROPA PORT is possible on the basis of prior approval from HAROPA PORT. The holder of the occupancy agreement continues to retain sole liability with regard to HAROPA PORT for fulfilment of all obligations deriving from that agreement, including for the part that is sublet.

10. Can an occupant transfer its occupancy agreement?

Transfer of an occupancy agreement is possible for the remainder of its contractual term and following prior announcement in the public record or a selection process.

11. What happens at the end of the contractual term?

At the end of the term of the occupancy agreement, the public domain property occupied will be subject to a new public record procedure or a selection process. If the outgoing occupant submits the best bid, it will be able to continue occupancy on the terms negotiated for the new agreement. If the occupant’s bid is not selected, it must restore the public domain site occupied to its previous condition. HAROPA PORT may permit buildings to be retained and these will then become HAROPA PORT property.