French government support of marina projects will see the creation of an extra 4,000 berths this year.

IBI PLus reports that nine marinas out of 25 submissions have been chosen to benefit from the government's funding of the Ports de Plaisance Exemplaires (Exemplary Marinas) project, which aims for the sustainable development of new marina spaces.

So far the French government has spent €1.7 million on studies in support of the project, through which some 9,000 berths are already set to be created via the 2009 and 2010 winners.

France currently hosts 466 marinas and a capacity of more than 170,000 berths, which falls far short of the demands of the country's five million boaters.

IBI PLus has more on the story HERE.