The idea of a maritime shuttle linking Nice and Cap-d’Ail is back on the table, reviving a long-running debate about how best to ease congestion along the Côte d’Azur corridor and improve seasonal mobility around Monaco…
As reported by Monaco Matin, the project has been reactivated by Minister of State Christophe Mirmand after being shelved by his predecessor, who had expressed doubts about its reliability for daily commuting due to weather conditions and operational constraints. Rather than positioning the service as a commuter link, the renewed concept is firmly oriented toward visitor flows, taking inspiration from similar seasonal services operating successfully in the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area.
What has received less attention, however, is the strategic opportunity this could create for Monaco’s broader tourism and transport ecosystem. A summer-focused maritime shuttle could help rebalance pressure on saturated road and rail links during peak periods, while offering visitors a distinctive coastal arrival experience aligned with Monaco’s premium destination positioning. It could also complement ongoing sustainability ambitions, provided low-emission or electric propulsion solutions can be identified and supported at scale.
Discussions are expected to resume with the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area, as any service terminating at Cap-d’Ail would fall under French jurisdiction and require delegated public funding. A pilot operation during the summer season is being considered as a pragmatic way to test demand, operating models and environmental performance before any longer-term commitment.
If implemented carefully, the shuttle could become both a practical congestion-management tool and a visible symbol of cross-border cooperation in smart coastal mobility.
Photo by Wyatt Simpson
