Port Louis harbour is
growing into one of the most efficient and modern ports in the region. The
harbour being the gateway for 99% of the island's total external trade
constitutes an important node in our infrastructure support. Over 5 million
tonnes of cargo and 100,000 containers are handled each year in Port Louis. The
harbour comprises five deep-water quays with depths varying between 9 and 12
metres, a sugar bulk terminal, and a fishing port. The harbour is equipped with
a new 13 hectare container terminal, half a million square feet of covered
space, and three post-panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes capable of
accommodating third generation ships. More than 200,000 square metres of
reclaimed land is available for warehouses and other specialised storing
facilities. The existing container terminal comprises terminals for the
manipulation of bulk sugar, bulk oil, bulk wheat and bulk cement and provides
cargo handling as well as trans-shipment facilities. It has kept pace with
technological changes in maritime transportation and containerised cargo
handling systems. Numerous international shipping lines call at Port Louis
regularly. Freeport activities can also be carried out from the Port Louis
harbour.