Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) is set to begin offering key support services such as fuel and ice to vessels operating in Malé’s North Harbour, as part of an ongoing reorganisation of the facility.
The changes follow MPL’s takeover of operational responsibilities for the harbour area stretching to the fish market in early July, a role previously managed by Malé City Council. With this handover, both the main commercial port and the North Harbour are now under MPL’s management.
MPL Assistant General Manager Ahmed Hamdullah Rasheed noted that the company is working to ensure fishermen and other vessel operators in the harbour have access to essential services.
“We are setting up an ice plant in the harbour to provide fishermen with ice at affordable rates. Fuel will also be made available at the lowest possible prices, as a service to the community rather than a profit-driven venture,” Rasheed explained.
According to MPL, the revamped harbour layout significantly increases berthing capacity. While the quaywall previously accommodated around 32–34 vessels, the restructured basin will now be able to handle close to 99 vessels at once.
The expanded capacity has been divided into designated zones to improve efficiency : 25 berths for waiting, 54 for cargo and passenger operations, and 20 for fishing boats. The cross-jetty has also been repurposed to allow smoother fish offloading before vessels depart.
MPL expects the operational overhaul to ease long-standing congestion issues. Vessels that once faced waiting periods of up to five days for quaywall space are now projected to secure berths within one to two days under the new system.
In addition to capacity upgrades, MPL is investing in infrastructure improvements to strengthen services and boost maritime safety. This includes functional zoning of the harbour and repair works on facilities that have been in operation for more than 14 years.
