Mauritius CHC Buys $60M of Equipment as Port Louis Approaches One Million Containers
On 7 September 2026, the Cargo Handling Corporation (CHC) of Mauritius signed a contract with Qingdao Hisea Heavy-Duty Machinery to acquire container handling equipment in Port Louis. The Cargo Handling Corporation is a state-owned enterprise that operates the Port Louis Container Terminal.
For the financial year ending on 30 June 2026, Port Louis handled 800,000 TEU. Within the next two years, the volume is expected to reach the million mark. At the same time, shipping lines are rerouting services to Port Louis in view of the strong trade growth between China and Africa and the protracted conflict in the Middle East.
Captain Hubert Noel, Deputy Managing Director of Cargo Handling Corporation and, Marvin Meng Wei, Marketing Director of Hisea signed the contract under the watchful eyes of CHC Managing Director, Gassen Dorsamy, and Hisea Regional Marketing Director, Zhang Tao. The Chairperson of the Cargo Handling Corporation, Norbert Marcel, also attended the signing ceremony.
Based on the contract, Hisea will manufacture and deliver 2 Megamax Ship-to-Shore (STS) Cranes and 5 Hybrid Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes. The Megamax STS has an outreach of 72.5 meters and can extend out to reach 25 rows of containers on current ultra-large container carriers (ULCC). They will gradually replace the Panamax and Super Post Panamax STS that CHC currently uses.
The contract value is MUR 2.7 billion ($58M) and delivery is expected for the end of 2027 or the start of 2028. Next month, CHC is receiving a training simulator as a gift from the Government of India to support the capacity building of its personnel. CHC forecasts that its throughput might reach 3 million TEU by 2030 if the Island Container Terminal project goes ahead.
According to its strategic development plan, CHC plans to invest up to MUR 5.3 billion to upgrade its capacity during the five-year period from 2026 to 2030. In addition to cranes, CHC also plans to buy reach stackers and hostlers, while contemplating the introduction of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) as part of its vision to transform Port Louis into a smart and green port.