The harbour, which MPL manages along with the commercial port and the harbour near the fish market, only allows registered vessels to anchor.
MPL’s Assistant General Manager for North Harbour operations, Ahmed Hamdhullah Rasheed, explained that vessel registration is an ongoing process without a set deadline. MPL staff conduct daily visits to the harbour in the mornings and evenings to inform fishing vessels about registration requirements.
He noted that MPL also helps unregistered vessels by guiding them through the required documents and services. Vessel owners can submit the necessary paperwork through Viber or WhatsApp, after which MPL processes the registration.
“Currently, 99 percent of passenger and cargo vessels have already been registered. Some remain unregistered due to missing documents, but efforts are underway to complete these registrations,” Hamdhullah said.
He highlighted that MPL’s goal is to operate the port as a public service rather than solely as a commercial facility, ensuring smooth and accessible services for the community.
With the ongoing expansion of North Harbour, MPL is also planning to introduce additional facilities, such as fuel and ice sales, within the harbour premises.
