THERE IS quite a build-up of sea cargo headed for tourist developments in the Seychelles island group, according to Alan Steveni, line manager for Unidel - Unicorn Lines' specialised shipping service to the Indian Ocean islands.
One project that has been running for some time now has been a five-star bungalow complex being constructed on the small Frigate Island just off the coast of the main island Mahe, he said.All the special timber bungalows and a lot of other equipment has been shipped up from SA for this development. These shipments, and the big (50-60 ton) construction equipment needed for the project, has required the chartering of a landing craft for the Mahe-Frigate Island leg.
Said Steveni: The developers are very sensitive about maintaining the ecology of this island, and we had to have a flat-bottomed landing craft to negotiate the surrounding reef without damaging it. On Mahe there is another five-star hotel development - with German and Belgian money behind it - and Unidel is carrying cargoes of materials for this project.
It has been quite a large import of materials, said Steveni, with, for example, 150 containers of cement alone.
