Request for Pre-Qualification for the Selection of a Concessionaire to Finance, Develop, Operate, Maintain and Transfer Back the Containerised and General Cargo Terminal at the Commercial Port at Mahe Quay in Port Victoria, Seychelles

Monday 28th April 2025 - The Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) is launching a Request for Pre-Qualification (RfPQ) to select a suitably qualified and experienced operator to finance, develop, operate, maintain and transfer back the containerised and general cargo terminal at the Commercial Port at Mahe Quay in Port Victoria, Seychelles. This operator, which may be a consortium, shall have sufficient financial capacity and an operating strategy that is aligned with the SPA’s objective of ensuring optimal value for the socio-economic development of Seychelles. The SPA intends to select a concessionaire through a two-stage competitive procurement process, starting with this RfPQ.
Redevelopment of Mahe Quay
The Commercial Port at Mahe Quay is the country’s main multi-purpose deep water commercial terminal, which handles container and general cargo vessels, liquid and dry bulk carriers (primarily petroleum products and cement), cruise liners, naval vessels and tuna vessels (mainly purse seiners and reefer bulk fish carriers).
Now that part of the quay has reached its 5th decade of existence and the container terminal is handling a throughput of more than 95,000 TEU per annum, expected to grow to 150,000 - 200,000 TEU in the coming decades, SPA is redeveloping the Commercial Port to meet the needs of the growing vessel and cargo traffic. This major redevelopment project is financed by the SPA, the European Investment Bank (EIB), Agence Française de Dévéloppement (AFD) and the European Union (EU).
The construction of an extension of Mahe Quay of 310m southwards is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026. The procurement of the contractor to implement this project under a design and build contract is currently underway, with the prequalification phase having already concluded. The tender documents are expected to be issued in the second half of 2025, upon the receipt of all regulatory approvals. This is expected to lead to the announcement of the best-evaluated bidder by the end of the year.
 
Concession to finance, develop, operate, maintain and transfer back the containerised and general cargo terminal at the Commercial Port at Mahe Quay in Port Victoria, Seychelles
The construction of the quay will pave the way for the selected concessionaire, through a thirty-year concession agreement, to finance, build and develop, operate, maintain and then transfer back a modern, digitised and suitably equipped container and general cargo terminal, with all necessary superstructure (container hardstands, internal roads, fences, buildings and warehouses) and equipment (mobile harbour cranes, reach stackers, truck trailer units, empty handlers and eventually rubber tyre gantry cranes) to accommodate a container throughput of at least 200,000 TEU.
The new concession will officially start on the 1st of January 2027 upon the expiry of the agreement with the current operator, Land Marine Limited, on the 31st December 2026. The concessionaire is expected to commence operations on the existing quay and terminal, while commissioning operations at the new quay and re-developing and modernising the terminal over a specified time period. To ensure a smooth transition with minimal impact on port users and the general economy it is envisaged to commence the handover process with the selected concessionaire on the 1st July 2026.
This procurement has been exempted under Section 88 of the Public Procurement Act (the Act) but it shall follow the general principles of the Act.
Instructions on how to obtain the RfPQ documents may be obtained by sending a request to concessionaire@seyport.sc before Monday 5th May 2025.
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