Signing of protocol for sale of navigational charts and handing over of hydrographic charts

1.During the State Visit of H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam to India in October 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Hydrography was signed between the Governments of India and Mauritius. Today, the Governments of India and Mauritius signed the "Protocol for sale of navigational charts". H.E. Dr. The Hon. Abu Twalib Kasenally, the Minister of Housing and Lands and Shri Madhusudan Ganapathi, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius signed the Protocol on behalf of the Governments of Mauritius and India, respectively.

2. Under the Protocol the Government of India will supply charts to the Government of Mauritius for sale to mariners. The charts will be produced and published by the Government of India and supplied to the Government of Mauritius. With the conclusion of the Protocol, freshly surveyed charts will be readily available to mariners.

3. Indian Naval Survey Ship (INS) Sarvekshak conducted survey of the Port Louis Harbour and Agalega Islands in 2006. The two were last surveyed about 110 years and 72 years ago, respectively. In 2007, INS Sarvekshak surveyed Port Mathurin, Rodrigues, which was last surveyed 133 years ago. In 2008, INS Investigator surveyed the northern areas of the St Brandon group of islands and the Saya de Malha Banks. The St Brandon islands were last surveyed in 1851. The survey and data of the Saya de Malha Banks would facilitate the Government of Mauritius to claim extended continental shelf beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone.

4. The navigational charts of the Port Louis Harbour, Port Mathurin, Agalega and survey sheets of the Saya de Malha banks along with its digitised data were handed over today to Dr. The Hon. Abu Twalib Kasenally by Shri Madhusudan Ganapathi. Fair sheet of the survey of the central portion of the St. Brandon islands prepared by INS Nirdeshak, which is currently undertaking survey of Mauritian waters, was also handed over to Dr. The Hon. Abu Twalib Kasenally.

5. The hydrographic charts were produced after painstaking measurement of the sea over many days, in difficult conditions of weather using state of the art technology operated by some of the best trained and professional officers. With the help of the hydrographic surveys undertaken by Indian Naval Survey Ships, Mauritius has become one of the few countries in Africa to have its coastal waters and 100 % of its ports surveyed in the 21st century. The hydrographic charts will ensure safe navigation for all the ships entering and sailing in the Mauritian waters.

Port Louis
April 2, 2009