Port Crisis: 4,396 Containers Delayed by Weather and 3 Outstretched Cranes

Major delays in the delivery of shipping containers at Port Louis are due to a combination of adverse weather conditions and critical equipment and staffing shortages, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam confirmed in Parliament.

The news comes as the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) and the Cargo Handling Corporation Ltd (CHCL) officially received complaints from the Mauritius Export Association (MEXA) and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in August and September 2025 regarding the crippling bottlenecks.

Key Delays and Operational Woes

The Prime Minister, responding to a query from MP Khushal Lobine, explained that the primary cause of sudden delays is the suspension of cargo handling operations during unfavourable weather for safety reasons, creating a backlog.

However, compounding this are structural constraints:

• A shortage of Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane operators.
• An insufficient number of Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes.

The CHCL currently operates five STS cranes, all of which are already at full capacity. Port performance has been further hampered after three STS cranes, which had reached the end of their economic life, were withdrawn in February 2023 without replacement.

The resulting slowdown led to ten vessels, transporting 4,396 import containers, bypassing Port Louis between June and August 2025. This critical disruption has caused delays of between four and eight weeks before goods finally reached the local market.

Remedial Measures and Long-Term Investment

The MPA convened a meeting of key sector stakeholders in August to identify corrective actions. While the situation has since “normalised”, some delays reportedly persist.

Operationally, the CHCL has enrolled 32 employees for RTG Operator training. The Indian Government is supporting this effort by providing a training simulator free of charge and will make a technical expert available for two years.

In the long term, the CHCL is accelerating its Rs 5.3 billion business plan for new heavy equipment acquisition, which includes:

• Two Super Post-Panamax STS cranes.
• Five hybrid RTG cranes.
• Fifteen tractor-trailers in Phase 1.

India is also providing significant finance of Rs 3.3 billion for a second equipment phase, which will see the purchase of an additional STS crane and eight RTG cranes.

Finally, Mr Ramgoolam announced that a major restructuring plan for the port is in preparation, with strategic support from India.

Source: l’Express