HAROPA PORT’s Radicatel terminal has handled a special logistics operation involving components for Europe’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle.
The vessel Canopée called at the terminal on 11 August 2026 for the transfer of heavy cargo between the ship and the river barge Obstiné.
Ariane 6 components transferred at Radicatel
Canopée arrived at Radicatel from Kourou, French Guiana, carrying several Ariane 6 components.
The cargo was unloaded using the terminal’s roll-on/roll-off ramp before being transferred to Obstiné. The barge will transport the components to ArianeGroup’s industrial site in Les Mureaux, France.
At the same time, other Ariane 6 components were moved in the opposite direction. They were transferred from Obstiné to Canopée before the vessel departed Radicatel.
The handling operations were carried out by Roll Manutention Services, part of the Katoen Natie Group.
The operation supports the movement of Ariane 6 equipment between industrial facilities in mainland France and French Guiana, where launch preparations take place.
Radicatel supports heavy cargo logistics
The operation also highlighted Radicatel’s capacity to accommodate specialized and heavy cargo movements.
Its infrastructure, including the ro-ro ramp, enabled the ship-to-barge transfer and provided a connection between maritime and inland waterway transport.
According to HAROPA PORT, the operation demonstrates the port complex’s ability to support large-scale logistics requirements for strategic industrial sectors, including the European space industry.
