Port Louis Harbour-the Future Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
- CONTAINERS: I wish to ship personal items to Mauritius by Sea freight. What is the process?
- CONTAINERS: Where is my container?
- CONTAINERS: Which international shipping lines operate in Mauritius?
- CRUISE: What are the cruise lines calling at Port Louis?
- CRUISE: What are the cruise lines’ main routes on the way to Port Louis?
- CRUISE: Where does the majority of cruise passengers come from?
- CRUISE: Where do cruise passengers disembark at Port Louis?
- BUNKERING: Where can I apply for a bunkering licence?
- SEAFOOD HUB: How is IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) Fishing dealt with?
- PORT SERVICES: Where can I find a list of approved ship chandlers?
- PORT SERVICES: How is fresh water supplied at Port Louis?
- How do I register a pleasure craft?
- PILOTAGE: Who are the towage and pilotage operators at Port Louis?
- What are the necessary procedures to operate vessels in Port Louis port waters?
- What are the procedures which vessels have to comply with before entering Port Louis port waters?
- What are the procedures which the vessels have to comply with when they enter Port Louis port waters?
You may engage an international mover or a freight forwarder to assist you with the Transportation on a DTP (Door-to-Port) or DTD (Door-to-Door) basis. The service of a customs broker is required for the clearance of your consignment by processing the Bill of Entry with the MRA Customs.
Details on licensed Customs Brokers operating in Mauritius are available with the Customs House Brokers Association website at http://www.customshousebrokers.com/.
For more information, you may also get in touch with the Mauritius Revenue Authority at www.mra.mu
The MPA does not track containers. These may be tracked on the shipping lines’ website using the container’s identification number.
Currently, the world’s 3 largest shipping lines (MSC, MAERSK and CMACGM) as well as Pacific International Lines (PIL) operate regular scheduled services to / from Mauritius. They offer dedicated African and Indian Ocean feeder services.
Currently, there are 3 cruise lines using Port Louis as their homeport. These include: Costa Cruises, Fred Olsen Lines and AIDA Cruises.
In addition, we have other Round The World Cruise vessels belonging to several lines including MSC Cruises, Hapag Lloyd Cruises, Silversea Cruises etc.
Round The World Cruises are generally incoming from Europe, Southern Africa or Australia region. On the other hand, homeporting cruises typically offer 14-day itineraries covering the Indian Ocean Islands.
In general, the majority of passengers are European (mainly French, German, Italian, Swiss, British etc.)
For more details on passengers arriving on each vessel, kindly contact the Passport and Immigration Office.
Most of the passengers disembark at the Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal located at Les Salines. It is at a walking distance to the City Centre and is away from the commercial activities at the port.
The MPA is proceeding with the construction of an iconic Passenger Terminal Building capable of accommodating upto 4000 passengers. This facility will comprise commercial areas, office space and adequate parking facilities. It is expected to be completed by end of 2019.
The MPA issues a port license to a company which operates bunker barges for the supply of bunker fuels to vessels calling at Port Louis. As regards a licence to trade in bunker fuels, kindly contact the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection (Commerce Division).
The IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. Its role is to ensure the conservation and appropriate utilisation of fish stocks and encouraging the sustainable development of fisheries. For more information, please visit www.iotc.org
In Mauritius, a clearance is needed from the Competent Authority falling under the Ministry of Ocean Economy before allowing any fishing vessel to enter the port. If a vessel is suspected of having ‘illegal’ cargo onboard, no service except providing bunker and food is allowed.
This information is available on our website. Kindly visit ‘The Port’ section which provides details of all Port Operators based on their business activity.
Currently, there is only one service provider which supplies fresh water to vessels by barge. The MPA is in the process of launching an expression of interest for a second operator in this segment.
Pleasure crafts are registered with the Ministry or Tourism
Pilotage and towage operations are carried out solely by MPA.
No vessels are to operate within the port area as it is a restricted zone. However small pleasure crafts are allowed to enter and leave the port during day light provided they have obtained the necessary approval of the Port Master.
The masters of all vessels approaching Port Louis have to ensure that all navigational equipment and the main engine are in good working order.
Master of tankers and LPG to inform the pilot via the agent or port control that all equipment are in good working order before proceeding to berth.
The agent / master / owner of the vessel to submit an arrival notice within 48 hours prior of arrival to the Port Master and to the Operations and Commercial Manager. For vessel departing from a port with less than 24 hours steaming time, notification to be sent as soon as vessel leaves the departure port.