Container Delivery: Ramgoolam Acknowledges Delays and Announces Corrective Measures

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam acknowledged delays in container deliveries at the port during a session at the National Assembly, which have caused hold-ups of up to eight weeks for importers.

In response to a question from MP Khushal Lobine, he outlined the structural causes behind these delays and the ongoing corrective measures.

Navin Ramgoolam stated that the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) and the Cargo Handling Corporation Ltd (CHCL) had received written complaints on August 20 and September 10, 2025, from the Mauritius Export Association and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry on behalf of their members. There had also been several verbal communications regarding the issue.

"These delays mainly occur after adverse weather conditions, during which container handling operations are suspended for safety reasons," explained the Prime Minister. He also mentioned a "shortage of rubber-tyred gantry operators and an insufficient number of ship-to-shore cranes." Currently, CHCL has five such cranes, all operating at 100% capacity.

The Prime Minister clarified that three of the eight ship-to-shore cranes, which have reached the end of their economic lifespan, have been removed from service since February 2023 without replacements. These factors, he added, "slow down vessel performance and negatively impact productivity."

As a direct consequence, from June to August 2025, ten container ships carrying a total of 4,396 import containers skipped the Port Louis stop. These ships were redirected to other regional ports, with containers eventually arriving in Mauritius with delays of four to eight weeks.

A meeting on August 22, 2025, between MPA, CHCL, professional associations, and shipping companies identified corrective measures. "The situation has significantly improved, with all diverted containers finally arriving at Port Louis," stated Navin Ramgoolam.

Training

Several initiatives are underway. Thirty-two employees have been undergoing training as rubber-tyred gantry operators since last month. The Indian government will provide a handling equipment training simulator free of charge, with delivery expected by the end of the year, and will send a technical expert for two years.

The Prime Minister recalled the Rs 5.3 billion development plan for CHCL, mentioned in a previous parliamentary question in May 2025. Navin Ramgoolam announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the port and related infrastructure. Following his state visit to India in September, Indian authorities granted their principle agreement for strategic cooperation for the rehabilitation and restructuring of the port of Mauritius.