Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has revised the guidelines governing how vessels are allocated space at the Malé North Harbour quay wall, introducing new procedures aimed at strengthening the existing berth allocation system.
Under the updated guidelines, cargo and passenger vessels will be permitted to register in the queue for harbour space from the time they depart, provided that the required payments for the Malé North Harbour quay wall have been completed.
MPL stated that when the North Harbour office calls vessels in queue order to allocate space, vessels must be able to approach the quay wall within two hours. If a vessel is unable to arrive within that period for any reason, or if the vessel cannot be contacted by phone, it will be temporarily placed on “hold” from the A-Zone and C-Zone queues. The next vessels in the queue will then be allocated space based on chronological order.
Vessels placed on hold in these zones will only be returned to the queue once they enter the Greater Malé region and contact the North Harbour office to request reactivation. MPL stated that requesting removal from the hold status is the responsibility of the vessel.
Once a vessel has been returned to the queue, it will only be called for an available berth two hours after being reactivated. If the vessel again fails to approach the berth or cannot be reached by phone when called, the vessel’s slot will be delayed. MPL said such delays will be permitted up to three times. On the fourth occurrence, the vessel will be removed from the queue.
The A-Zone refers to the pier located on the Boduthakurufaanu Magu side of the harbour.
The revised guidelines also outline separate rules for the Express Queue. Unlike the A-Zone and C-Zone queues, vessels in the Express Queue will not be allowed to be placed on hold. When called for an available berth, vessels will be given four hours to approach the quay wall, during which quay wall charges will apply. If the vessel does not arrive within this period, it will be removed from the queue.
MPL also stated that vessels placed on hold in the A-Zone and C-Zone queues may remain in that status for a maximum of five days, or 120 hours. If the vessel is not reactivated within this period, it will be removed from the queue.
According to MPL, vessels are responsible for registering in the queue after departing from the Malé North Harbour and for re-registering if they are removed from the queue.
The updated guidelines will take effect at 08:00 AM on Saturday, March 14.
