The newly inaugurated Maritime Coordination Centre (MCC) in Villimale will serve as both an operational hub and a training facility for the Maldives Coast Guard, Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives, Ishigami Rumiko has said.
Speaking during the official opening of the centre, Ambassador Ishigami highlighted that the centre—funded by a USD 3.7 million grant from the Government of Japan—will markedly increase the Coast Guard’s human‑resource capabilities and strengthen maritime safety across the archipelago.
“The new Maritime Coordination Center will be an operational facility as well as a maritime training hub. The ground floor will house an operation room and conference room; the first floor will feature an auditorium, classrooms and a chart room for training purposes, alongside a terrace‑style study area and a library,” she detailed.
The project, which began in 2022, faced delays before being revived on the initiative of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. In addition to Japan’s financial support, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) facilitated site development, while the Australian Government contributed technical assistance.
UN Representative to the Maldives, Hao Zhang, echoed the Ambassador’s remarks, noting that under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, states must ensure adequate rescue arrangements for their vast maritime zones.
Zhang pointed out that Maldives’ maritime area far exceeds its land, posing significant challenges for authorities. But with the MCC now in place, those challenges will be alleviated, and the Coast Guard’s work will be brought under one roof, he added.
He added that the centre is envisaged as a regional platform for information exchange and joint training, welcoming participation from regional countries.
“This center will be used by countries outside Maldives. Information exchange and training will be conducted to achieve progress in this field,” he said.
The government has said that the new centre will enable real‑time coordination of search‑and‑rescue operations, improve maritime domain awareness, and provide a structured environment for capacity‑building programmes.