Mauritius ranks 327th out of 344 in the World Bank’s Transport Global Practice report, titled “The Container Port Performance Index 2022”. This report presents a comparative evaluation of the performance of the ports based on the time spent on site.
“It’s far from flattering. Reaction of Gérard Bertrand, negotiator of the Port-Louis Maritime and Employees Association (PLMEA), after Port-Louis ranked 327th worldwide, out of 344, in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).
The country is also listed in the CPPI by Throughput category: Medium Ports (between 0.5 million and 4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) per year). Port-Louis is preceded by the Malagasy port of Toamasina, ranked 112th, and the port of Reunion which is in 115th place. The Mauritian port is ranked 187th.
Among the 37 ports in the sub-Saharan region, Port-Louis is in 30th position, behind Toamasina (10th), Port Victoria (13th), Mayotte (15th) and Port Réunion (22nd). The port of Djibouti ranks first in this ranking, while two South African ports, Durban and Cape Town, rank 36th and 37th respectively.
According to Gérard Bertrand, the country deserves better, especially at the regional level, because it has better equipment than some countries in the region which are ahead of it in the ranking of sub-Saharan countries. He adds that every effort is being made to improve performance, as evidenced by the achievements and development projects in the Mauritian port sector. He then wonders about the criteria used for this classification.
The Mauritian port has maintained good performance during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, he says. Average production is around 20 containers per hour, depending on the type of vessel. Through the use of various gantries, the work is carried out efficiently, and the port is constantly evolving to improve its productivity. “Our motto has always been ‘high quality and reliable service.’ »
Gérard Bertrand is of the opinion that with all the ongoing developments in the port sector, the Mauritian port is on the right track. In addition, the union has had discussions with management, and the employees are dedicated to their work, he says.
According to the CPPI 2022, the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences on the port sector eased in 2022 and persisted in early 2023. This resulted in an improvement in port congestion and a reduction logistical disruptions. The report also highlights that this improvement in 2022 has had a positive impact on the performance and ranking of certain ports. However, when the problem was systemic and not location-specific, the inherent inefficiency remains.
The report highlights that shipment delays, supply chain disruptions, additional expenses and reduced competitiveness can result from poor performance of ports and terminals, especially container terminals. These issues can have repercussions beyond a port’s hinterland, as container shipping services follow a specific schedule with specific berthing windows at each port of call on the route. Thus, poor performance in a port can disrupt the whole program, increasing the costs of imports and exports, reducing the competitiveness of the country and its hinterland, and hampering economic growth and poverty reduction, such as the document points out.
According to the CPPI 2022, container ports remain vital elements of global supply chains and are essential to the growth strategies of many emerging economies. The development of high-quality, efficiently managed port infrastructure has often been a precondition for the success of growth strategies, especially export-oriented ones. When done well, it can attract investment in production and distribution systems, support manufacturing and logistics growth, create jobs and increase income levels.
Harbor Master Plan
The Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) has launched a series of consultations in 2021 as part of its MPA 2040 vision, with the aim of developing an inclusive vision for the next 20 years and guiding the future direction of the MPA. As part of the implementation of the second phase of the 2016 Port Master Plan, several projects have been considered, including the construction of a cruise terminal, the creation of a marina in Caudan, the establishment of an island terminal and the development of a fishing port. We have contacted the MPA for information on the status of these projects. We are awaiting their response.
