The inauguration of the newly completed Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) for the Maldives Coast Guard marks a significant upgrade in the nation’s ability to respond to maritime emergencies, Chief of Defense Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy has said.
Speaking during the official inauguration of the building, the Chief of Defense Force, while stressing that the vast expanse of the Maldives’ territory is ocean, warned that delayed response to accidents at sea can quickly lead to loss of life and property, underscoring the critical importance of robust maritime security.
The state‑of‑the‑art MRCC, whose construction was revived this year after earlier delays, now features an operational control room, training classrooms, and an auditorium equipped for search‑and‑rescue drills and law‑enforcement education.
The facility’s modernisation was made possible through funding from the Government of Japan and technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOCD).
Major General Hilmy noted that the upgraded centre fulfills the Maldives National Defence Force’s legal mandate to rescue people and assist vessels in distress.
“With modern facilities, we will be able to provide assistance to vessels in distress at sea and rescue people. This is a task that the military wanted to complete,” he said.
He thanked President Dr Mohamed Muizzu who personally pushed for the resumption of the project, prioritising its completion to enhance the country’s search‑and‑rescue capacity.