Protocol for the entry and departure of vessels at Port Louis Harbour

1. Entry in the territorial waters of Mauritius

1.1. In accordance with regulation 21 of the Merchant Shipping (Security of Ships) Regulations 2019, before entering the territorial waters of Mauritius, vessels are required to submit pre-arrival information to the Director of Shipping as per the provisions of the said Regulations.

2. Prior to arrival of vessel at Port Louis Harbour

2.1. Appointment of Local Licensed Shipping Agent
2.1.1. Prior to calling at Port Louis Harbour, all owners of foreign cargo ships, cruise vessels, and fishing vessels need to appoint a local licensed shipping agent who will represent the vessel during their stay in the port.

3. Implementation of the White Grub Protocol

3.1. The National Plant Protection Office of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security implements the yearly White Grub Protocol from 01 November to 15 January in order to monitor the white grub insect on vessels calling at Port Louis Harbour, in line with the Protocol signed between the Government of Mauritius and the Government of the Republic of France.

4. Arrival of the vessel at the Port Louis Harbour

4.1. Health Authorities, Passport and Immigration Officers and Customs Officers board all vessels, for arrival formalities and issuing clearances.

5. Arrival of Fishing vessels at the Port Louis Harbour

5.1. In accordance with section 51 of the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 2007, the Master, owner or agent of a licensed Mauritian fishing boat or a licensed Mauritian fishing vessel shall, 2 days prior to the vessel reaching Port Louis Harbour, inform the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping of the expected time of arrival.

6. Local pleasure craft, licensed by the Tourism Authority, returning from Foreign Port or from Outer Islands

6.1. All local pleasure craft returning from a foreign Port, Port Mathurin or from Outer Islands are to imperatively call at Port Louis Harbour to be boarded by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (Customs) and the Passport and Immigration Office on arrival, after the green light and free pratique obtained from the Port Health Authorities. The pleasure craft can subsequently proceed to their respective mooring places.

7. Foreign pleasure craft calling at Port Louis Harbour

7.1 In accordance with the provisions of sections 44 and 48 of the Customs Act, the owner or master of any seagoing vessel including a foreign pleasure boat, yacht, surfing boat, rowing boat, ship of any kind shall not permit his ship to enter any place in Mauritius other than the Port Louis port unless from stress of weather or other reasonable cause.

8. Departure of vessel from the Port Louis Harbour

8.1. Cargo ships and Foreign Fishing vessels

8.1.1. Prior to the departure of Foreign Fishing vessel, the local shipping agent should apply and obtain an outward port clearance from the Director of Shipping. (This does not apply to pleasure craft of less than 500 Gross Tonnage, local fishing vessels of less than 24 metres and local fibre-glass fishing vessels of 24 metres or more).

1. Entry in the territorial waters of Mauritius

1.1. In accordance with regulation 21 of the Merchant Shipping (Security of Ships) Regulations 2019, before entering the territorial waters of Mauritius, vessels are required to submit pre-arrival information to the Director of Shipping as per the provisions of the said Regulations.

2. Prior to arrival of vessel at Port Louis Harbour

2.1. Appointment of Local Licensed Shipping Agent
2.1.1. Prior to calling at Port Louis Harbour, all owners of foreign cargo ships, cruise vessels, and fishing vessels need to appoint a local licensed shipping agent who will represent the vessel during their stay in the port.

3. Implementation of the White Grub Protocol

3.1. The National Plant Protection Office of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security implements the yearly White Grub Protocol from 01 November to 15 January in order to monitor the white grub insect on vessels calling at Port Louis Harbour, in line with the Protocol signed between the Government of Mauritius and the Government of the Republic of France.

4. Arrival of the vessel at the Port Louis Harbour

4.1. Health Authorities, Passport and Immigration Officers and Customs Officers board all vessels, for arrival formalities and issuing clearances.

5. Arrival of Fishing vessels at the Port Louis Harbour

5.1. In accordance with section 51 of the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 2007, the Master, owner or agent of a licensed Mauritian fishing boat or a licensed Mauritian fishing vessel shall, 2 days prior to the vessel reaching Port Louis Harbour, inform the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping of the expected time of arrival.

6. Local pleasure craft, licensed by the Tourism Authority, returning from Foreign Port or from Outer Islands

6.1. All local pleasure craft returning from a foreign Port, Port Mathurin or from Outer Islands are to imperatively call at Port Louis Harbour to be boarded by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (Customs) and the Passport and Immigration Office on arrival, after the green light and free pratique obtained from the Port Health Authorities. The pleasure craft can subsequently proceed to their respective mooring places.

7. Foreign pleasure craft calling at Port Louis Harbour

7.1 In accordance with the provisions of sections 44 and 48 of the Customs Act, the owner or master of any seagoing vessel including a foreign pleasure boat, yacht, surfing boat, rowing boat, ship of any kind shall not permit his ship to enter any place in Mauritius other than the Port Louis port unless from stress of weather or other reasonable cause.

8. Departure of vessel from the Port Louis Harbour

8.1. Cargo ships and Foreign Fishing vessels

8.1.1. Prior to the departure of Foreign Fishing vessel, the local shipping agent should apply and obtain an outward port clearance from the Director of Shipping. (This does not apply to pleasure craft of less than 500 Gross Tonnage, local fishing vessels of less than 24 metres and local fibre-glass fishing vessels of 24 metres or more).