Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) is seeking to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Hydro Survey for its port in the industrial island, Thilafushi.
MPL has re-announced for a consultant for the EIA, geotechnical, hydro-survey and bathymetry survey of the Thilafushi port after its initial announcement in April failed to garner sufficient interest.
MPL has set the deadline for applications as 13 May.
The previous government had decided to relocate the Male’ Commercial Harbour to Gulhi Falhu but the incumbent government has decided to relocate the commercial port to Thilafushi. The biggest difficulty for the operation of the Male’ Commercial Harbor is the congestion and lack of space to provide services. To find a solution, MPL is already working on the construction of a 30-metre keywall at Thilafushi.
MPL had earlier said that it takes between five and nine days to unload a cargo ship. However, the duration can be cut down to just two or three days, when the port is relocated to Thilafushi, it said.
The government has planned the relocation in phases and once the relocation is complete, the port in Male’ is set to be converted into a transshipment port. MPL aims to relocate the port to Thalifushi within the next two years.
In addition to the Male’ commercial harbour, the government is planning to relocate the North Harbor and T-Jetty operations to Thilafushi.