News Desk
The Maldives Ports Limited has outlined new details of the Thilafushi Port project as the government works toward relocating the Malé Commercial Port by November 2027. The update was shared at the Trade Desk programme organised by the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade.
MPL Manager Business Development Ayman Ali said the company is implementing a phased masterplan to shift all major commercial port operations to Thilafushi. He said the new site will include a container terminal, a domestic terminal and a general cargo loading and unloading area. The move is intended to ease long standing congestion in Malé.
Ayman said North Harbour and T Jetty currently operate on five hectares of space. Thilafushi offers 20 hectares, allowing MPL to handle up to 300,000 twenty foot containers a year. He said the expansion is expected to ease capacity constraints that have slowed port operations for years.
He said the larger terminal and the planned multi operated facility would help the company meet rising demand. He added that expanding port space is expected to support economic activity by reducing delays in cargo handling.
In his Presidential Address earlier this year, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said the commercial port will be fully relocated to Thilafushi by November 2027. He said the shift will allow cargo vessels to dock more easily and reduce the number of days ships wait offshore. He also said the relocation will lower the cost of bringing goods into the Maldives and improve wholesale market logistics once related services are moved to Thilafushi.
The Thilafushi Port is planned as the country’s central commercial harbour, replacing the congested Malé Commercial Port and expanding national cargo handling capacity. Some components of Phase One were awarded last month to China Harbour Engineering Company, marking the start of preparatory works and early construction activity.
In Majlis, President Muizzu said the new port is central to strengthening economic resilience and modernising the country’s maritime trade network. The government has said the project will provide a long term solution to the space limitations and rising demand at the existing Malé Commercial Harbour.
