Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has announced changes to the regulations governing the allocation of space for vessels at Male’ North Harbour.
In an announcement, MPL said the revised rules aim to strengthen harbour management. The new regulations will take effect from 8:00am on Saturday.
MPL said seven key changes have been introduced:
- Vessels carrying goods or passengers can register in any queue after departure by paying the required dues at the keywall of Male' North Harbour.
- If a vessel fails to reach the keywall or cannot be contacted within two hours after being called by the North Harbour Office, it will be temporarily placed on “hold” in the A-Zone and C-Zone queues. The next vessel in line will then be allocated the space.
- Vessels placed on hold can rejoin the queue after entering the Male' area by contacting the North Harbour Office. It is the vessel’s responsibility to request that the hold be lifted.
- Once a vessel is returned to the queue, the harbour office will call if a space becomes available after two hours. If the vessel is unable to approach the space or answer the call, the allocation may be postponed. This can happen a maximum of three times, after which the vessel will be removed from the queue.
- The express queue will not allow holds or postponements. Vessels assigned a space through the express queue will have four hours to reach the keywall. Charges will apply during that period, and vessels that fail to arrive within four hours will be removed from the queue.
- Vessels in the A-Zone and C-Zone queues can remain on hold for a maximum of five days (120 hours). After that period, they will be removed from the queue.
- Vessel operators are responsible for registering in the queue after departing Malé North Harbour and re-registering if their queue position is cancelled.
The North Harbour area reopened on the 19th of last month after vessels were temporarily relocated to facilitate road widening and tarring works in the area.
Previously, vessels parked along the harbour’s A-Zone or the Boduthakurufaanu Magu canal side did not have access to water or electricity. MPL said work is now under way to provide both services in the area.
