Seychelles Port Authority is planning to expand Port Victoria to serve more, and larger, vessels.

The existing quay which is 270m long is set to be extended by an additional 330 metres to be able to accommodate two boats measuring up to 250 metres in length at the same time.

Andre Cisseau, chief executive of the Seychelles Port Authority, said: “The expansion followed a decision by the authority and the government to ensure that Seychelles remain the favourable port of call in the region.”

The project will cost around $107m and is expected to start in late 2017 and be completed by 2021.

Port Victoria is the main port of the Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. It is the only port of the island nation that handles the import and export of goods for the country.

Franky Laporte, the project manager, said that the decision to extend also takes evolving port standards into consideration.

He added: "Once the project is completed, it will include new shipping technology, port safety and security measures. The expansion will open Seychelles to new business investments.”

The extension project will comprise five phases and it will start once the feasible financial study is completed.