The government has awarded the development of the Faresmaathodaa harbour and marine repair yard, in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). The agreement was signed on 2 March at Dharubaaruge in a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure. Construction Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib signed on behalf of the government, with Mohamed Jamsheed, Deputy Managing Director of MTCC, representing the contracting firm.
The project, valued at USD 14.67 million, is scheduled for completion within 780 days. Faresmaathodaa, a centre of the fishing industry and home to a local airport, has faced mounting pressure on its harbour facilities as demand has outpaced capacity. The expansion is expected to ease these constraints, improving vessel mooring, cargo handling, and daily commuting for residents and maritime operators.
The scope of work is extensive, requiring dredging of 465,726 cubic metres of the basin, construction of a 300‑metre quay wall, and a 1,462‑metre breakwater. Coastal defences will be reinforced with a 733‑metre traditional revetment, a 133‑metre geotube revetment, and 329 metres of groynes. The project also includes a 9,206‑square‑metre paved surface and a concrete bridge measuring 36 metres in width and 6 metres in length.
At the signing ceremony, Minister Muththalib underscored Faresmaathoda’s importance to the fishing industry and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to maritime professionals. “Faresmaathodaa stands as one of the islands with the highest concentration of fishing vessels in the Maldives, ensuring that specialised facilities required by fishermen will be instituted under this initiative,” he stated. “In alignment with this need, a definitive resolution has been made to construct a dedicated marine repair yard. Furthermore, the harbour itself will undergo significant expansion.”
Ashraf Rasheed, the Member of Parliament representing Faresmaathodaa, expressed gratitude for President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s foresight in accelerating the project and commended both Minister Muththalib and MTCC for their collaborative efforts.
The harbour expansion forms part of a broader government strategy that has designated Faresmaathodaa as a priority zone for development. In December, the island underwent reclamation of 18 hectares of land. To protect this reclaimed territory, MTCC was previously awarded a separate contract to construct a 620‑metre boulder revetment, underscoring a sustained, multi‑phase investment in the island’s future.