The ambitious relocation of Male’ city’s increasingly congested commercial harbour to neighbouring industrial island, Thilafushi is expected to take at least 10 years, Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) CEO Mohamed Rishwan has said.
The initial phase of the mega undertaking aimed at resolving critical space issues plaguing the capital’s maritime logistics is underway, highlighting the urgent need for expansion as the current Malé harbour significantly exceeds its operational capacity.
Speaking on PSM News' ‘Hafthaa 104’ programme to mark the second anniversary of the incumbent government, Rishwan detailed the severe strain on existing infrastructure. The main commercial harbour in Male’, originally designed to handle just 1,500 containers, is now struggling with a throughput of 3,000 containers. This, coupled with the Hulhumale' harbour’s 2,000-container capacity, underscores the bottlenecks facing the nation's maritime logistics. The city’s main commercial harbour has served for 39 years but has reached its limits due to critical space constraints.
The solution, he explained, lies in the development of an expansive 60-hectare commercial port at Thilafushi, a project with an estimated total cost of USD 250 million, to be implemented in various stages over approximately 10 years.
Rishwan provided an update on the progress of Phase One, noting the successful completion the 60-metre keywall for empty containers at Thilafushi, while the necessary permits are currently being sought from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Maldives Customs Service. The next critical component involves the construction of a relief jetty at Thilafushi, a two-year undertaking designed to alleviate pressure on the commercial port, North Harbour, and T-Jetty.
Looking ahead within Phase One, the CEO outlined plans for a 100-metre keywall, with drawings already prepared for an additional 660 meters of local keywalls. This initial phase will also encompass the construction of essential warehouses, comprehensive infrastructure development, new facilities, and the necessary human resource expansion.
"The entire Phase One is targeted for completion by November 2027," Rishwan affirmed, projecting the cost for this initial stage at approximately USD 60 million. He further noted an additional USD150 million earmarked for local harbour relief efforts.
Emphasising the transformative impact of the undertaking, Rishwan described these developments as "major and important changes." He anticipates the subsequent phases of the commercial harbour relocation to Thilafushi to proceed swiftly, acknowledging the substantial ongoing expenditure required for both infrastructure and human resource development dedicated to this crucial national project.