La Digue port extension project |04 March 2023

Seychelles Nation

The first phase of the La Digue port extension project, which stared in March last year, will be completed at the end of this month, according to the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA).

This information was communicated to the La Digue residents yesterday at a public meeting at Chalets Bamboo, La Passe where the SPA’s chief executive, Sony Payet and his team updated the residents on Phase 1, which involved enlarging the docking area, the construction of a 126-metre quay wall that will be used as a cargo terminal, to provide unloading and loading services, as well as a point of refuelling for the Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec). The first phase involved separating cargo and passenger activities.

Mr Payet said everything has gone well and SPA will now move to Phase 2 that will kickstart in two weeks’ time and is expected to last one and a half months.

“The second phase is simple; it involves enlarging the port and providing more facilities to businesses on La Digue. This involves the dredging of the right-hand side of the quay, to remove accumulated sand. This will leave room for fishing boats, yachts, and leisure boats, and other tourism activities that will take place on La Digue,” said Mr Payet.

Once completed it is expected to provide, a larger, safer, and deeper docking area for approximately 15 boats and yachts, according to SPA.

SPA described yesterday’s meeting as positive as Diguois are well versed with its project since a technical committee had been set up on the island at the beginning of the project, comprising representatives of private organisations, agencies and businesses using the port on a daily basis. They meet monthly to discuss progress on the project, voice out any concerns and pave the way forward.

During yesterday’s meeting, the Seychelles Fishing Authority also presented a project on sustainable fishing, being done parallel to that of SPA, for the fisheries community on La Digue. SFA’s business development and properties manager, Derrick Monthy, said SFA was funding the project partly to sustain the port, provide anchorage to fishermen and proper facilities to disembark their fish.

Compiled by Patsy Canaya