(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles’ Port of Victoria made history on Monday when the MS Aurora became the longest cruise ship to berth there.

Measuring 273 metres in length, the MS Aurora docked here following a visit to Colombo, the capital of the island nation of Sri Lanka in Southeast Asia. The visit is part of the cruise ship’s world tour that began in Southampton, UK.

In welcoming the MS Aurora, Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange said the arrival of cruise ships are now picking up after a lull due to the former piracy threat in the Indian Ocean.

“It is good to note that four years ago cruise ships did not come to Seychelles. It is only for the past three years that we have started intensive work to encourage vessels to come to Seychelles,” said St. Ange.

St. Ange added that cruise ship passengers contribute to the Seychelles’ economy, which is largely dependent on tourism, the top economic pillar, through activities they undertake during their visits.

Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange with the captain of the MS Aurora on a tour of the cruise ship on Monday. (Louis Toussaint, Seychelles News Agency ) Photo License: CC-BY

During its 10-hour stay in Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, the 1,700 passengers and 800 crew members on board had a chance to visit Mahe, the main island, before proceeding to Port-Louis, the capital of Mauritius.

The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Port Authority, Colonel Andre Ciseau, said Seychelles is looking forward to continued success in making the Indian Ocean island nation a cruise ship and super yacht hub.

MS Aurora, which is part of the British P&O cruise line, is a classic ocean-going vessel built in 2000 at a cost of $375 million and can carry a maximum of 2000 passengers.

Port of Victoria will welcome another cruise ship, MS Queen Victoria, on April 11.