Maldives Ports Limited has launched a new nationwide logistics service aimed at improving the movement of imported goods and essential staples to islands across the country, positioning the initiative as a structural upgrade to domestic supply chains.
The service, branded as Maldives National Logistics, was officially inaugurated during the Maldives Marine Expo by Finance Minister Moosa Zameer. According to Maldives Ports Limited, the programme is designed to streamline the transport of goods from ports to warehouses in the atolls, with a particular focus on scheduled deliveries and improved cold chain capacity.
MPL described Maldives National Logistics as an integrated system that links import and export transport, warehousing, and last-mile delivery through a single operational network. The company said the service is intended to address long-standing inefficiencies in goods transport while offering greater predictability for businesses and suppliers.
The launch follows a government decision in December last year to assign MPL responsibility for managing the ANCHOR logistics network. As a result, MPL has expanded its existing logistics operations and established Maldives National Logistics as a standalone service line. Over time, the company plans to extend the service to include domestic transport between regional ports.
Under the planned expansion, transhipment containers arriving at the Male Commercial Harbour will be transported to Kulhudhuffushi Port and Addu Hithadhoo Port using MPL-operated vessels. The company said this approach is expected to reduce transport costs for businesses, shorten delivery times, and increase the operational role of regional ports.
MPL Chief Logistics Officer Ahmed Nazim said the key advantage of the new service lies in its use of scheduled deliveries, removing reliance on third-party operators. He said goods destined for islands will be delivered to the nearest port under MPL’s ferry system, based on fixed schedules.
To support the service, MPL has contracted the construction of a landing craft, which the company expects to bring into operation within eight months. The vessel is intended to strengthen capacity for inter-island cargo movements.
Alongside the logistics launch, MPL also announced plans to introduce commercial warehousing facilities on the industrial island of Thilafushi. The proposed facilities are expected to provide storage for cleared goods, adding another layer to the country’s logistics and distribution infrastructure.
