First phase of commercial port relocation to Thilafushi awarded to Chinese company

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) signed an agreement today with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the first phase of the project to relocate the Male' Commercial Port to Thilafushi by November next year.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony held at the MPL Head Office by the company’s CEO, Mohamed Rishwan, while Country Manager Mao Bao signed on behalf of CHEC.

According to a presentation by MPL's Senior Business Development Manager, Mohamed Aiman, the primary objective of this project, titled the "Local Harbour Relief Project," is to alleviate the congestion at the Male' Commercial Port. He stated that the project also aims to provide more convenient options for businesses and speed up port services.

Aiman further noted that the port relocation project will be carried out on a 20-hectare plot of land acquired by MPL in Thilafushi.

The work awarded to CHEC today includes the development of a 125-meter quay wall, an area for vessels carrying goods to the atolls, and space for container storage. The project also encompasses the installation of port cranes.

Aiman clarified that today’s contract specifically covers the necessary survey and design work for this project.

Providing details about the port development in Thilafushi, Aiman said, "What we are calling the Local Harbour Relief Project involves developing a domestic harbour with a 650-meter quay area here for all the boats currently docking and handling cargo at the Male' North Harbour and South West Jetty, in addition to this international quay."

He also mentioned that a bonded warehouse would be established upon the total completion of the relocation to Thilafushi. According to Aiman, once the first phase of the Thilafushi port is completed, it will take only 48 hours to unload a cargo ship, a process that currently takes five to six days.

"One of the biggest objectives of moving this entire operation to Thilafushi is that it will significantly ease the traffic congestion within Male', and the buildings currently used in the Maafannu port area can be utilized by the government for other purposes," he said.

At today's ceremony, MPL CEO Mohamed Rishwan stated that the agreement signed today is intended to achieve the goal of relocating the Male' Commercial Port by November 11, 2027, as highlighted by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in today’s Presidential Address.

Rishwan noted that even when he assumed the role of MPL CEO, one of the aspirations of the company’s leadership was to develop a new port.

"Even if a specific location hadn't been decided then, we needed to move to a port other than this one to provide a more complete service to the citizens of the Maldives. It was a strong resolve of mine, along with everyone in leadership and management, to work on this," Rishwan said.

He mentioned that they had advocated for this at the President’s Office and ministries, and had submitted various proposals regarding the matter to the President.

"Along with that, the President has given very high priority to this," Rishwan said.

He added that with the President announcing the plan in the Presidential Address, a great responsibility has been placed on the leadership and all employees of MPL. He also noted that this work began today with the aim of increasing the space of the Male' Commercial Port from 5 hectares to 10 hectares.