SEPM (Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco) was founded in 2002 to provide technical and commercial management of the ports of the principality.
Fully held by the City-State of Monaco, this public limited company under Monegasque law (SAM) began its managerial activities on 1 January 2006. SEPM has also been awarded the management of the new semi-floating sea wall and its cruising business.
Under the impetus of HRH Prince Rainier III, studies were undertaken in the 1970s to better protect the stretch of water by placing, before the two existing piers, a new sea wall and a breakwater to provide the port with full protection from the swells of the eastern sector.
SEPM has several different objectives within its core business including defining commercial policies for amateur sailors and cruise companies and revitalizing the ports of call of boats and yachts.
Ambitious targets
Welcoming leisure craft remains the priority of the SEPM team, currently with some forty members. Chairman Aleco Keusseoglou, has ambitious quality, hospitality, service and safety targets aimed to develop the ports.
This commercial objective is set to contribute to promoting areas, improving hospitality in the principality and developing the Monegasque economy even further via the direct and indirect effects of pleasure boating and cruising.
Since the beginning of its mandate, the Société d’Exploitation des Ports has been successfully implementing the missions it has been trusted with.
Preserving the Monegasque identity
The Principality is devoting a significant part of its development initiatives towards the maritime sector. Hercule Port, as a natural deepwater port, benefits from constant improvements towards its protection and its equipment.
2002 saw the installation of a 350-meter-long semi-floating ecological breakwater anchored at a depth of around 100 meters.
SEPM provides its ports with premium services and positions them as ports of excellence. It ensures the protection of their environment in collaboration with government services, modernizes procedures and increases returns in favor of the State. The Society also contributes, along with cruise activities, to the economic development of the city-state, while (out of 1,050 berths, 600 annual contracts are awarded to vessels under 16 meters).
Capital of advanced yachting
The strategy of the Ports of Monaco, through its subsidiary, the Société Monégasque Internationale Portuaire (SMIP), is to export its expertise and find complementary supply solutions close to Monaco.
First concrete results included the acquisition in 2016 of the Cala del Forte Port in Ventimiglia, Italy, which was put into service in July 2021. All these components place the Principality today as the ‘Capital of advanced yachting’.
Le Port Hercule
Hercules Port is a natural bay at the foot of the ancestral rock of the princes of Monaco. It is one of the few, if not the only deep-water port of the French Riviera.
It was used as a trading port by the Greeks and Romans but had the disadvantage of being poorly sheltered from the easterly winds. This prompted the erection of two piers in the early twentieth century which went some way to providing better protection.
Under the impetus of HRH Prince Rainier III, studies were undertaken in the 1970s to better protect the stretch of water by placing, before the two existing piers, a new sea wall and a breakwater to provide the port with full protection from the swells of the eastern sector.
Monaco became the ‘Capital of Yachting’ and this redevelopment also enabled large and luxurious pleasure craft to enter the Port in response to the development of ocean cruising.
These studies were to lead to the construction of a colossal structure 352 meters in length and weighing 160,000 tonnes at the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar. The unique design of this avant-garde work was to be semi-floating. The volume of seawater trapped’ between the underside of the structure and the mobilized seabed behaves like a wall – patented as a ‘fixed water wall’.
The floating nature of this structure, anchored on the rock side by a ball joint and moored on the seaside by eight lines or moorings. The five moorings on the wide side and three on the shoreside have made it possible to preserve the marine fauna and flora.
It was towed to the principality in August 2002 and moored at the foot of the rock. It was completed by a lee breakwater 145 meters in length in order to build a marina in front of Quai Louis II, itself created in 2005 and completed in 2011 – intended to host the Yacht Club in the summer of 2014. The new sea wall also makes it possible to welcome major cruise ships (up to 300 meters in length).
Inside the original port, HRH Prince Albert II, who continued the work started by his father, wished to see the stretch of water undergo comprehensive redevelopment to make Hercule Port the most modern and most practical marina in the western Mediterranean. Monaco became the ‘Capital of Yachting’ and this redevelopment also enabled large and luxurious pleasure craft to enter the Port in response to the development of ocean cruising.
Le Port de Fontvieille
Only fifty years ago, Fontvieille was nothing more than a narrow stretch of sand where rocks plunged into the sea.
The emergence of a new area in Monaco was linked to the economic development of the principality and the Port of Fontvieille became a reality.
During the development of these new plots of land (17 hectares by the sea), one section was set aside for the creation of a marina. Sitting at the foot of the Rock of Monaco to the east, the Port of Fontvieille is certainly one of the most sheltered in the region, being protected from the easterly winds by the rock and from the southerly and westerly swell by the large sea wall which provides protection for the entire Fontvielle area.
At the very heart of the residential area of Fontvieille, the marina offers full facilities for both amateur sailors who are simply passing through and longer-stay visitors.
At the very heart of the residential area of Fontvieille, the marina offers full facilities for both amateur sailors who are simply passing through and longer-stay visitors. This haven of peace can accommodate up to 275 boats with a maximum draught of three meters.
Leisure sailors have at their disposal all the services required for the proper functioning of a marina: water and electricity at each berth in addition to toilet facilities and showers. A shopping center, hypermarkets, the Monaco heliport and the sporting complex of Louis II stadium can also be found in the vicinity.
Numerous restaurants on the waterfront and nearby shops make the Port of Fontvieille a place of vitality to be explored at a leisurely pace in any season.
Le Port de Cala del Forte
At 12:00pm on Thursday 15th October 2020, the iconic sailing yacht Tuiga, flagship of the Yacht Club de Monaco, arrived at The Port of Cala del Forte. Sailing from Ventimiglia to Monaco, this was the first yacht to dock at the brand-new Molo d’Onore berth.
The entry of Tuiga into Cala del Forte marks a historic and symbolic moment prior to the marina’s official inauguration that took place the 2nd July 2021.
The ceremony saw the participation of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco alongside members of the marina’s senior management, representatives of both Monaco and Italy’s religious, military and public authorities, owners of the various yachts currently moored at Cala del Forte.
Cala del Forte is amongst the most advanced, best-equipped and secure ports on the Mediterranean while also holding the title of the longest concession in the Mediterranean with a duration spanning until 2094.
Cala del Forte is an exquisite, brand new, state-of-the-art marina located in Ventimiglia, Italy and only 15 to 20 minutes from the Principality of Monaco (7.9 nautical miles).
Protected naturally from the elements and with strictly monitored access from the land, it is a perfect sister marina to the neighboring Port Hercule and Port of Fontvieille.
Monaco Ports have brought extensive experience to the development of this marina with a vision to develop something unique that holds true to the values of security, integrity, service and sustainability.
Cala del Forte is amongst the most advanced, best-equipped and secure ports on the Mediterranean while also holding the title of the longest concession in the Mediterranean with a duration spanning until 2094.
Ventimiglia’s picturesque scenery, favorable climate, famous farmer’s markets, excellent restaurants, vast variety of shops, luxurious amenities and sheer endless activities make every stay a special experience.
Regular maritime transfers on board high-speed shuttle ‘Monaco One’ operating between Port Hercule and Cala del Forte (a 15-minutes journey from port to port), allow owners and their guests swift and exclusive access to the Principality.
Know more:
www.palais.mc
www.gouv.mc
www.mairie.mc
www.visitmonaco.com
www.portsdemonaco.mc
www.yacht-club-monaco.mc
www.caladelforte-ventimiglia.it
www.meteoconsult.fr
www.ffports-plaisance.com
www.upaca.com
www.ramoge.org
www.accobams.org
www.cruisesmonaco.org
