The Seychelles are helping Mayotte by providing two barges to Hippocampe Island. This arrival was expected by the authorities. The prefect of Mayotte, at the origin of this operation, contacted the Seychellois owner of the barges, after having consulted the Mahorais specialists on the feasibility of the operation.
Despite significant progress in many areas, life in Mayotte remains impacted by the damage caused by the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido. Among the hundreds of difficulties, the maritime connections between Petite and Grande-Terre. An umbilical cord that is all the more vital as the airlift to transport food and construction equipment arrives at Dzaoudzi-Pamndzi airport, on Petite-Terre.
The barges, which made this connection, were damaged by the meteor. The boats' moorings broke. Ships ran aground, others ended up entangled among other boats.
The two Seychellois barges are therefore essential to renew this link.
The prefect of Mayotte, François-Xavier Bieuville submitted his idea to the department's maritime affairs specialists. The few obstacles are lifted, the barges are arriving, Le Journal de Mayotte tells us.
-One of the points, which was the subject of discussions, concerns the organization of the crews of the two barges. To facilitate operations, the teams will be made up of Seychellois sailors (they work on these boats and know their whims.) helped by Mahorese colleagues (the seabed and traps have no secrets.).
This collaboration, which should last one month, will make it possible to “streamline boarding and disembarkation”.
These tools will undoubtedly speed up the reconstruction of Mayotte. It is not impossible that their presence will be prolonged, if the damaged barges are not able to take over.
