French publicly owned port operator Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan (CPM) is leading a proposed €12.8 million ($14.3 million USD) expansion of Lorient La Base port in Brittany to accommodate more offshore racing yachts and improve berthing conditions. A three-month public consultation on the project is scheduled to begin on 16 November 2026.

According to CPM, the proposal would add 3.22 hectares of harbour space, an increase of nearly 40 percent over the existing berthing area. The plans provide for 530 metres of floating wave-attenuating pontoons, divided between 340 metres in the Bernoulli area and a 190-metre extension of the K3C pontoon, plus a 29-metre access walkway and a 60sqm viewing platform. Construction is planned from November 2027 to July 2029, subject to the necessary approvals.

The proposed expansion aims to create more space for offshore racing yachts, commercial boats and heritage vessels and make it safer to enter and moor without restricting access to neighbouring ports. To avoid burying cables in the seabed, the proposed facilities would also connect to existing utility networks, and new pedestrian routes would be open to the public.

Residents, boat owners, marine professionals and other interested parties can review the project documents, including the environmental impact assessment, and share their feedback from 16 November 2026 to 16 February 2027.

Images from Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan.