 Cherbourg-Octeville was created on 1 March 2000 through the joining of Cherbourg and Octeville, following a local referendum within ""Grand Cherbourg"".The city revived its tourist and maritime identity through the Cité de la Mer and the opening to the public of the "Redoubtable", and became the home of stopovers for cruises and nautical events.The "between land and sea", with an emphasis on the commercial and touristic attractiveness of the city and the Bassins Quarter, as well as the economic specialisation in boating, emerged.