MSC and Maersk interested in Port Louis terminal operation
According to Mauritius newspaper 'L'Express', seven terminal operators are interested in a privatisation of the Port Louis Terminal ('Mer Rouge'), in co-operation with the Cargo Handling Corporation (CHC). These operators are understood to include MSC, APM Terminals International (A.P. Moller-Maersk), PSA (Singapore), Hutchison (Hong Kong), DP World (Dubai) and ICTSI (Philippines). They are motivated by the potential of Port Louis as an Indian Ocean transhipment hub.
During the past six months, transhipments have grown by 30%. During 2006, 100,000 containers were transhipped and the CHC expects this figure to reach 200,000 to 300,000 within four of five years.
L'Express notes that MSC and Maersk Line contribute to 85% of the activity in terms of containers handled at the terminal, for a total of 270,000 teu last year. Thanks to recent dredging work, Port Louis can now accommodate ships of 5,000 teu.