Celebrating 50 Years of Mahé Quay |25 October 2023

Copies of the book

SPA launches coffee table book

The Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) has unveiled its latest coffee table book, ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Mahé Quay’, to commemorate a half-century of Mahé Quay.

SPA held a small ceremony at its headquarters yesterday morning, presenting a copy of the book to various government entities and schools.

The coffee table book comprises five distinct chapters, and the team responsible for its content includes Christine Ouma, Patrick Berlouis, Patrick Nanty, and Sam Andrade.

Eileen Hoareau was responsible for the book's layout and design and Précigraph Limited printed the work.

Already, the book's cover conveys a lot through its arrangement of three photos, featuring the port at three different stages; the beginning, half-way through, and at present.

In an interview with Seychelles NATION, Mr Berlouis said they were given the project in February this year, with a July deadline. “We embarked on an engaging journey to gather all the information necessary for the 50th anniversary of Mahé Quay,” he said.

Together with Patrick Nanty, they subsequently assembled a dedicated team. “We provided SPA with an initial framework and then worked tirelessly on the book. Throughout this process, we gained a wealth of knowledge. We also collaborated with other individuals, such as Jean Claude Mahoune, Julien Durup, and Tony Mathiot, who had previously contributed materials for chapter one. Additionally, we referenced numerous articles published in Seychelles NATION,” explained Mr Berlouis.

Chapter one delves into the early days of the port facilities and the harbour, spanning from 1609 to 1900. It provides insights into the harbour as described by intrepid mariners, explorers, and a colonial officer (1609-1885), including details on jetties, wharfs, and a long pier, the Hodoul Pier or Le Petit Port, Mylius Wharf, and the development of facilities along the long pier. The chapter also touches on the Victoria Lighthouse.

Chapter two covers the period from 1900 to 1973, which witnessed the opening of Mahé Quay. This era was marked by the transition from wind-powered navigation to steam, along with significant global events such as two World Wars that had an impact on port operations. The chapter also covers the Victoria Reclamation Project.

Chapter three spans from 1973 to 2000, highlighting the changes made to meet the growing public demand. This period saw Seychelles facing challenges related to containerisation, larger cargo vessels, industrial fishing boats, and cruise ship development plans. The chapter provides insights into the transformation of the long pier into a fishing port, the servicing and maintenance of buoys, anchors, chains, and sinkers, the dry dock, innovations, two National Development Plans, the Commercial Port Expansion project, the privatisation of Port Victoria in 1994, and cautionary tales from the Port.

Chapter four focuses on the period from 2000 to 2023, covering the establishment of SPA in October 2004, the various opportunities it has offered, and the extension of Port Victoria. The chapter also elaborates on the organisation of SPA and its facilities.

The final chapter five, primarily discusses ‘The Project’, which involves preparing for the Port Victoria Rehabilitation and Extension Project in 2023 and beyond.

This book is undoubtedly a valuable addition to the history of SPA, and due to its popularity, it may be made available for sale in the future, shared SPA.

Vidya Gappy

Photos: Joena Meme