MPL attributes Malé North Harbour congestion to increase in cargo vessels

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has said congestion at Malé North Harbour is the result of a gradual increase in the number of vessels using the facility, rather than a problem that has emerged recently.

MPL officials made the remarks on Tuesday while appearing before Parliament's State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee to address complaints about delays and difficulties faced by cargo vessels transporting goods to the atolls.

The committee summoned MPL officials following a letter sent to Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla in July by Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim, requesting an inquiry into the company's procedures for using North Harbour.

The letter, dated 7 July 2026, raised concerns that MPL's operating arrangements were creating difficulties for vessels transporting cargo between Malé and the atolls.

Speaking at the committee meeting, MPL North Harbour Section Manager Mohamed Azal said the number of vessels using the harbour had continued to increase each month.

"Every month, approximately two or three additional vessels begin using the harbour. When North Harbour services began, there were around 80 vessels. Now there are 149," Azal said.

According to Azal, 80 additional vessels have begun using the harbour since 2024. This includes 25 vessels in 2024, 21 in 2025 and 34 so far this year.

He said the increase had placed pressure on the harbour's capacity, resulting in longer turnaround times for vessels.

"Approximately 80 vessels have been added over the past three years. This is not a problem that emerged today. It has gradually intensified over time," he said.

Azal explained that the harbour's physical capacity had remained largely unchanged despite the increase in vessel numbers.

"North Harbour has not become significantly larger. It remains almost the same size as before. However, the number and size of vessels have increased, creating these difficulties," he said.

He added that the completion of the port development project at Thilafushi was expected to help address the congestion.

Azal also defended changes to berthing procedures at North Harbour, saying vessel owners, captains and harbour users had acknowledged improvements in safety.

Under the previous arrangements, vessels were permitted to berth alongside one another, requiring passengers and crew to cross other vessels to reach the jetty.

MPL has since introduced arrangements allowing vessels to berth directly alongside the jetty.

Azal said the change had made access easier and reduced safety risks, although it had also limited the number of vessels that could berth simultaneously.

He explained that road-widening works had further reduced the available space within North Harbour, while arriving and departing vessels continued to use the same area for manoeuvring.

"With the road widening, the available space at North Harbour has become much narrower. Both arriving and departing vessels have to manoeuvre within that space," he said.

Azal acknowledged that the reduced space no longer allowed vessels to berth alongside one another as they had previously.

However, he said vessel owners and captains generally considered the current arrangements safer.

"Previously, when vessels were berthed alongside one another, even a fire could have posed a serious safety risk. Vessel owners, captains and harbour users now recognise that the present arrangement is better in terms of safety and security," he said.

Azal maintained that the principal difficulty was the time required to serve the growing number of vessels.

"Turnaround times were faster when there were 80 vessels. With 149 vessels now using the harbour, delays are inevitable," he said.

He added that MPL had revised its procedures for managing vessel queues as part of efforts to address the congestion.