An MoU has been signed in Seychelles to commission a study on how to raise the standard of port services in the region to similar levels throughout the 'Vanilla Islands'. Seychelles currently  holds the presidency of the Vanilla Islands group, which comprises Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion, Mayotte, and the Maldives.

The chief executive of the Seychelles Ports Authority, Ronny Brutus, said that “the study will also help to compare the different ports in the region to bring all ports to the same standard to meet the expectation of visitors. It will help us to adopt the best practices offered by other ports.” 


The study is being financed by the European Union and the Agence Française de Développement at a cost of $360,000. The study has been awarded to Inchcape, a company with which Mahe Shipping has enjoyed a long relationship over many years.

More details can be read here.

Le Lapérouse arrived at Port Victoria tosday. This brand new vessel is the lead ship of Ponant Explorers-class cruiseships operated by Ponant. Each member of the class has been allocated the name of a famous French explorer.  Le Lapérouse is named after naval officer Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, who was appointed in 1785 by Louis XVI to lead a scientific expedition around the world. This followed the Pacific Ocean discoveries of Captain James Cook, who Lapérouse greatly admired. Built by VARD, Le Lapérouse was launched on on 18 December 2017, and following successful sea trials that began in May 2018 she was delivered to Ponant in Ålesund on 15 June 2018.

The cruiseship Boudicca operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines made it's third call of the 2018/2019 season at Port Victoria on 20-21 November. The vessel made inward clearance at Praslin on 19 November. Two further calls are planned, one in December and one in January 2019.

The cruiseship Boudicca operated by Fred Olsen Cruises has called at Port Victoria, Mahe on 5 November, sailing on 6 November bound for Praslin. Mahe Shipping acted as agents for the vessel.

Named after the British warrior Queen, Boudicca caters for up to 880 passengers.   Three further calls are scheduled before the end of 2018 with a further two calls in 2019.

Seychelles Ports Authority and partners have imposed stricter controls at the commercial port as the new cruise ship season begins.

The Ports Authority has in the past had problems controlling operators who provide services to tourists with the increase in activity in the port during the cruise ship season, which starts in mid-October and runs until early May each year. For this season, a schedule has been introduced by which taxis, destination management companies and tour operators will be granted access to the port to collect clients.

The full story can be read here.