When the new Seine-Nord connection is ready, it will allow large vessels to transport goods between the Seine (and the Paris area) and the ports of Dunkerque, Antwerp, and Rotterdam, or further into Europe.

[3] The project's budget will be €4.7 billion, financed by the European Union, the French government, the Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France regions and the départements Oise, Somme, Pas-de-Calais and Nord.

The project was called into question after a change of Government in July 2012, not per se but for its cost and the principle of a public-private partnership (PPP) which after the financial crisis of 2007-2008 was found to be unworkable.

Significant cost reductions were deemed possible, and 'reconfiguration' of the project led to use of the line of the existing Canal du Nord over a length of about 8 km (5 mi), lowering the summit level by 18.50 metres and thus eliminating one lock.

A single push-tow 185 m long can carry 300 containers unloaded in a maritime port, compared to 5 fully loaded trains and 200 trucks.