 St Nazaire is on the north bank of the Loire 400 km ( 250 miles ) from the nearest British port . In 1942 , it had a population of 50 @,@ 000 . The St Nazaire port has an outer harbour known as the Avant Port , formed by two piers jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean . This leads to two lock gates before the Bassin de St Nazaire . These gates control the water level in the basin so that it is not affected by the tide . 
 St Nazaire is on the north bank of the Loire 400 km ( 250 miles ) from the nearest British port . In 1942 , it had a population of 50 @,@ 000 . The St Nazaire port <a href='got' title='1'><mark>has</mark></a> an outer harbour known as the Avant Port , formed by two piers jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean . This <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>leads</mark></a> to two lock gates before the Bassin de St Nazaire . These gates control the water level in the basin so that it is not affected by the tide . 
St Nazaire is on da north bank of the Loire 400 km ( 250 miles ) from tdanearest British port . In 1942 , it had a population of 50 @,@ 000 . The St Nazaire port got an outer harbour known as thdavant Port , formed by two piers jutting outt into thedalantic Ocean . This lead to 2 lock gates before the Bassin de St Nazaire . dese gates control the daer level in the basin so that it ain't affected by the tide .