The Cargo Handling Corporation Ltd (CHCL) has signed a contract for seven new container cranes as part of an equipment renewal and transformation programme at the Mauritius Container Terminal in Port Louis.
The contract with Qingdao Heavy Duty Machinery Co. Ltd (QHDMCL) covers two Megamax/Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and five hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes. The equipment is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027, with operations expected to begin in early 2028.
The crane investment represents the first phase of a wider CHCL programme valued at more than MUR 2.7 billion ($58 million), which is being funded from the company’s own resources. The programme is aimed at improving terminal productivity, efficiency and operational capabilities.
CHCL Managing Director Condavelloo Dorsamy said the new equipment will enable the terminal to handle the latest generation of containerships and respond to growing demand from international shipping lines.
The programme will also include digitalisation initiatives, employee training and professional development. CHCL plans a second phase to further enhance the terminal’s operational capabilities.
The crane order forms part of broader plans to strengthen Port Louis as a regional container hub. The Mauritius Ports Authority has also identified improvements to container handling capacity and infrastructure as priorities under its Port Master Plan.