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.