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Why did shipbuilding become less important in Marseille?

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View of the old port of Marseille, France, with numerous boats docked in the harbor and the city's terracotta-roofed buildings rising up a hill, topped by the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica. — Marseille Seaside view of the Old Port of Marseille, France.

Shipbuilding in Marseille has disappeared as a major industry primarily due to a loss of markets. While the city historically maintained shipbuilding and ship repair as key economic activities, these sectors have seen their importance greatly diminish over time.1

The decline of traditional manufacturing in the city was also influenced by the broader economic shift toward the city’s periphery, where heavy industries—such as oil refining and petrochemicals—grew in the mid-20th century following the development of the Fos port-industrial complex. Today, while large ship repair yards still exist in Marseille, their overall significance to the local economy has significantly decreased.1