Praslin to get new marina |03 May 2022

Minister Derjacques is flanked by SPA chief executive Ronny Brutus (right) and Mr Laporte (Photo: Joena Meme)

Work on a new marina to berth some 50 hire crafts and other pleasure vessels is expected to start next year following the Cabinet of Ministers’ approval last week of the proposed development.

The project which will be implemented at Baie Ste Anne will form part of a greater plan for a new town centre for the Praslin district.

Giving more details on the proposed project on Thursday afternoon at his office at Botanical House, Transport Minister Antony Derjacques said the new marina will be funded through a public private partnership.

The development would be at the Baie Ste Anne passenger terminal on the plot of land jutting out into sea, better known as PUC Electricity island.  

“The marina project will redevelop and reorganise the plot of land by having pontoons all along and other structures related to a marina. It will not be a large marina but one that could berth some 50 hire crafts,” Minister Derjacques explained.

He went on to note that on Mahé there are already a lot of infrastructure and marinas to accommodate the different local and foreign hire crafts, yachts and other pleasure boats that cruise our waters. As for Praslin, there is only a small space at the passenger terminal which can berth only around 30 to 40 vessels but the difficulties arise when the different vessels decide to spend time on Praslin and the neighbouring islands and there is no place for them to berth. 

“We believe that with a larger marina on Praslin, visiting vessels will have enough berthing space allowing their owners to spend more time on Praslin, and other islands enjoying all that they have to offer, spend more days in the hotels which would boost  tourism development and related economic activities on the islands,” said Minister Derjacques.

For his part, Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) chief executive Ronny Brutus pointed out that it has always been in the authority’s strategic plan to have a marina on Praslin as there has always been demand for such a facility.

“With increasing pressure in the maritime sector, as more leisure crafts cruise around our islands, we have found it necessary to push forward the marina concept for Praslin to get the government’s approval so we can meet the increasing demand for such a facility,” Mr Brutus stated.

He further went on to add that the SPA would lead the project to ensure it is carried out in its entirety while respecting all the necessary norms so that when completed the marina will provide all the necessary services as expected.

“The SPA remains committed to ensuring that developments and services associated with a marina are carried out in a responsible manner and in line with the government’s strategy to bring more economic activities to the inner islands,” Mr Brutus highlighted.

Franky Laporte, SPA’s chief project officer, remarked that the location of approximately 5,000 square metres of land chosen for the project is ideal and there will be enough space to develop related facilities like shops, restaurants, water and refueling facilities for the vessels as well as waste and sewerage management facilities.

The SPA in collaboration with the department of environment is taking care of all environment-related aspects of the project.  

Expression of interests for the project will soon be launched and the investor with the most convincing proposal and who possesses the capital, skills and expertise to develop and manage a marina will be accepted.

“It is also expected to create opportunities for small entrepreneurs on Praslin,” Mr Laporte pointed out.

 Marie-Anne Lepathy