1. Issues and challenges specific to port infrastructure management

1.1 Considerable stakes

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1.1.1 Ancient history

Metropolitan France has three coastlines stretching some 5,600 km, with some 560 ports. Several major periods of port and maritime infrastructure construction have followed one another under the impetus of the State. From the 17th century onwards, with the boom in world maritime trade, ports became essential for economic development, while also being strategic for national defense (construction of the first dry docks dedicated to building and fitting out merchant and...