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History

Over the centuries, the port has naturally established itself at the heart of the Gulf of Ajaccio. Thanks to its ideal geographical location, it has developed steadily, acquiring the appropriate port infrastructure required for economic, cultural and tourist exchanges. Ajaccio has thus developed around the port, which very early on became a renowned port of call in the Mediterranean.

From 1492 to 1802

 The town of Ajaccio had a 40-metre-long jetty known as the ‘Office de Saint-Georges’, situated to the north-east of the rocky headland on which the current Town Hall stands.

1805: Quai Napoléon

 The first Quai Napoléon, 200 metres long, built between 1802 and 1808, was repaired in 1842 and 1853 and completely restored in 1860, as it was frequently submerged and damaged by south-westerly swells.

1855: Margonajo Pier

 The Margonajo Jetty was built on a string of rocks just above the water’s surface: the straight section (200 m) was constructed between 1840 and 1844, whilst the curved end section was built in 1861. The first 200 metres were rebuilt between 1882 and 1886.

1860–1880 Citadel Pier

The first 200 metres of the Citadel Jetty and an extension of Quai Napoléon were completed in 1865 and 1880 respectively. In 1880, the port had only 85 metres of quay with a water depth of more than 4 metres; the Quai Napoléon was too shallow for the passenger ships of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique to dock, so they had to drop anchor 200 metres from the quay.


The area around the harbour was therefore dredged in 1885, and 60 metres of the Quai de la Citadelle were constructed in 1888–1889, with a depth of between 6.5 and 9 metres.

From 1900 onwards

1902

Quai l’Herminier or Quai de la République: The first 200 metres of the Quai de la République had already been completed by 1902, that is to say, in front of the breakwater at the Citadelle jetty.

1912

Capucins Pier and Chamber of Commerce Pier

1914

Extension of the Citadel Jetty Quay

1923-1932-1934

Further extensions to the Citadel Pier

1931 to 1932

Sheltered Harbour Jetty

1937-1939-1944

New Chamber of Commerce Quay

1954

Dredging of Port Abri

1954-1955

Raising the level of the central reservations on the old and new Quai de la Chambre de Commerce

1964-1967

Extension of the Quai l’Herminier (from 75 m by 120 m in the north to 45 m by 240 m in the south) with the creation of two berthing points for ships using horizontal handling systems

1969

Widening of the south façade of the Jetée des Capucins by 15 metres and the creation of a berthing point for ships using horizontal handling equipment.

The Modern Port

 The ongoing development of port infrastructure is aimed at ensuring controlled, safe and modernised growth.

Achievements:

  • Construction of the ‘3 Maries’ jetty (intended primarily for freight and international traffic).
  • Development of the Capucins pier (used for Territorial Continuity and cruise ships)
  • Construction of the cruise ship jetty, completed in 2008
  • Construction of the coach station; construction of the cargo ship terminal, which opened in 2014…

 

Over the past 30 years, the port has developed modern infrastructure enabling it to safely accommodate the largest cruise ships under optimal conditions, to meet the requirements of shipping companies, to contribute to the development of freight transport and to work for the benefit of the entire port community.