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The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum for boat owners to clear anchored, abandoned, and sunken vessels from the central lagoon of Thilafushi. The order comes as physical preparations begin for the long-awaited project to relocate the Malé Commercial Harbour to Thilafushi.
News Desk
Thilafushi --
The Housing Development Corporation has instructed owners to clear all anchored and sunken vessels from the Thilafushi lagoon within seven days as major commercial port construction gets underway.
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has issued an official notice ordering the immediate removal of all vessels currently located in the central lagoon area of Thilafushi.
In its public announcement, the state developer specified that the notice applies to anchored boats, grounded vessels drawn ashore, and sunken craft. Vessel owners have been given a seven-day deadline to clear the designated marine zone. HDC warned that any unclaimed or unremoved vessels remaining after the notice period will be impounded or disposed of under the regulation governing abandoned vessels in Thilafushi.
Project Objective: Relocate the main commercial port from Malé to Thilafushi to eliminate cargo congestion and modernize maritime logistics.
Target Completion Date: November 11, 2027.
Domestic Terminal Scope (MTCC): Construction of a 100-meter domestic quay wall and paving of a 3-hectare area, awarded to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
Main Quay Wall Scope (CHEC): Construction of a 375-meter international quay wall (14.6 meters deep) and an 820-meter domestic quay wall (5 meters deep), awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
Final Port Capacity: Over 1,000 meters of international quay wall and more than 2,000 meters of domestic quay wall replacing existing berths at Malé’s North Harbour and South West Harbour.
Footprint Expansion: The new facility will cover an area roughly 10 times larger than the current Malé Commercial Harbour.
According to Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), relocating the commercial harbour is designed to resolve severe space constraints that have choked cargo handling in the capital for years. The new facility will significantly increase container handling capacity and streamline freight operations across the Maldives.
During his inaugural Presidential Address in February, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that the commercial harbour would be completely transferred to Thilafushi to address long-term logistics growth. While relocating the commercial port has been discussed by successive governments for nearly two decades, physical development is now actively progressing following recent contract sign-ups and land preparation.
