First of all, let me clarify what we mean by TFM. River and maritime works, commonly referred to as TFM for "travaux fluviaux et maritimes", span a wide range of structures including quays, breakwaters, piers, ports, offshore extensions, dams or barrages and even bridges. The boundaries between these can be tenuous, but ultimately what they all have in common is water. Ironically, TFM works are mostly carried out on land where it is easier to control manufacturing quality and equipment costs. Bouygues Travaux Publics has a long track record in this sector and, for several years, has focused on opportunities for major contracts, by tendering through joint ventures with its long-standing partner, Bouygues Offshore, which went on to become Saipem.

The Calais port extension project, which was launched in 2015, is the largest port project in Europe and a veritable shop window for the know-how of Bouygues Travaux Publics. The purpose of this large-scale project is to create a new ferry terminal for Calais-Dover crossings, adapting the existing infrastructure to the increase in maritime traffic. The first phase of works involved reclaiming 45 hectares of land from the sea by means of substantial dredging works carried out by our partner Jan De Nul. More than 4 million cubic metres of sand were extracted from the bottom of the future basin to deepen it and at the same time form the future platform. Construction of the 3.2 km breakwater, the project's iconic structure, is now complete.

The Monaco offshore extension project, carried out by the S.A.M. L’Anse du Portier / Bouygues Travaux Publics-Monaco consortium, reflects the ability of Bouygues Travaux Publics to manage technically complex in sensitive environmental areas. The worksite is located near the Larvotto marine reserve and the Spélugues coral reef. To protect the marine life, preparatory environmental works were launched in September 2016, moving 143 fan shells and transplanting 518 square metres of posidonia (marine plants). This delicate phase is now complete, and we are monitoring the adaptation of the species to their new environment on a daily basis.

In 2017, river and maritime works accounted for over 25% of business at Bouygues Travaux Publics Regions France (Bouygues TP RF). Our success is due to two key factors: organisation and diversity. When Bouygues TP RF was established in 2010, the decision was made to give river and maritime works a long-term structure. This strategy is now paying off with expertise centred around three business activities: bank stabilisation and sheet pile driving; construction of predominantly valve-based dams; and port projects. Bouygues TP RF has become a major player in the quay construction sector in France, winning several significant contracts over the past three years.