The Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has stated that the difficulties faced in bringing containers from Colombo Port to the Maldives have now been resolved.

MPL stated that challenges in unloading cargo at the Malé Commercial Harbor arose from the beginning of this year due to an increase in the number of incoming cargo vessels. The company noted that some vessels were carrying more containers at a single time compared to previous volumes, which led to an increase in the number of days spent unloading cargo at the port.

According to MPL, due to the space constraints at the port, difficulties were also faced in providing services to match the generated demand.

However, the company noted that through the efforts of MPL’s operations teams, more than 4,000 TEUs that had been stranded at the Colombo Port since April this year have been brought to the Maldives, and cargo vessels operating between Malé Harbor and Colombo Port are now making "normal schedule" trips.

MPL stated that efforts are underway to identify and implement temporary solutions for the issues arising from space constraints at the commercial harbor.

As part of these efforts, the Government has decided to relocate the Malé Commercial Harbor to Thilafushi by November next year. The first phase of this project has been awarded to China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) of China. Additionally, the development of a 100-meter quay wall at the port and the paving work of the area were awarded to MTCC.

MPL stated that this is an area currently being developed for clearance operations at the port under development in Thilafushi, and the company aims to complete the work in this area by October this year. Once this work is completed, sea cargo clearance services will be provided in that area.

However, once the Thilafushi Port development project is fully completed, this area will be utilized as a "service quay" specially dedicated to MPL's vessels.

The commercial harbor relocation project is being carried out on a 20-hectare land plot acquired by MPL from Thilafushi. Once the first phase of the port is completed, it will take 48 hours to clear a cargo vessel. Currently, it takes five to six days to clear a vessel.