Port Development: Rs 3.3 Billions for Container Terminal Extension on 240 M

This project will require an investment of Rs 3.3 billion, is part of a development plan which includes the expansion of the container park, consolidation loading locations over a range of 560 meters, construction of a barrier and the deepening of docks up to 16.5 meters.

According to the director of the Mauritius Ports Authority Shekur Sunta, these studies, which are necessary in the context of port development, Port Louis will host the giant container ships carrying more than 8 000 to 9,000 TEUs. The work will be undertaken by Marine & Civil Works, Construction of Bunds and Dredging Works.

The purpose of the construction of a bund wall at Fort George and Fort William will retain the material collected during the dredging done before the container piers and deepen the seabed. The space created will be used for future port development.

The work is estimated at Rs 351.5 million. Tenders, launched in December, will terminate on February 13 at the Central Procurement Board. The construction of the protection wall will then begin in May and end in April next year.

Civil and marine works consist also extend the container berth up to 560 meters and expand the container yard by 6.5 hectares. To do this, a tender will be launched in March and the work will be completed in 2015. The park can accommodate up to 750 then 000 containers against 550,000 now.

Dredging will also Port Louis to host container most used by shipping companies. "The deepening works would require about 1 million m3 to be dredged. The dredged material would be put to beneficial use for land reclamation of about 35 hectares of land in the Fort William and Fort George for future port development , "says one in the project plan.

This work, which will cost about Rs 690 million, will be completed in 2014. According to forecasts, "he works are scheduled to be undertaken in 2014 after the construction of the bund wall at Fort William and Fort George and is expected to be completed by end 2014 ."

As pointed out by the Finance Minister Xavier-Luc Duval at a recent press conference, the modernization of port infrastructure in line with government policy to make Port Louis a hub port in the region. It will also support the authorities' willingness to give new impetus to the free port has been incentives in Budget 2013. These measures encourage foreign entrepreneurs to use the facility free port for exports on the African market.