As from March 2001, with the introduction of new equipment, the Port of Cherbourg will be able to respond to the growing demand for the repair and maintenance of fast ships. The new extra wide Synchrolift ship elevator will be able to handle large catamaran-type fast ships and all other vessels up to 32 m in width. It will be one of the largest in the world.

The Synchrolift’s platform will be 90 m long with lifting capacity of 4,500 tonnes. The platform will be supported by 14 lifting stations equipped with Synchrolift electrically driven winches providing lifting speed of 17 cm per minute.
The ship elevator will be located in the " Mielles" inner harbour. This area will be developed in order to become the Cherbourg Maintenance Base for Fast Ships.