Construction has recently started on a harbour project at Dhiyaneru Lagoon in the Kaafu Atoll, with the primary aim of benefiting liveaboard operators.
Minister of Tourism Dr Abdulla Mausoom emphasised the significant role of boating in the tourism sector’s growth, attributing it to the Maldives’ successful recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its consecutive World Leading Destination Award wins. He also highlighted that this harbour would address the existing infrastructure deficit that has hindered more liveaboard operations.
In August, Urbanco awarded a contract to Capital Marine and Civil Construction Company Private Limited (CMC) for a land reclamation and infrastructure development project spanning Hulhumale’ Phase III, Dhiyaneru Lagoon, and Thilafushi Area D.
This project includes the reclamation of 62.6 hectares in Hulhumale’ Phase III, 24.6 hectares in Dhiyaneru, and 9.6 hectares in Thilafushi Area D. The government’s goal is to establish a harbour in Dhiyaneru Lagoon that offers berthing services for liveaboard and supply vessels, with the capacity to safely moor up to 500 vessels of various sizes.
The National Boating Association of the Maldives (NBAM) has expressed its approval of this project’s commencement, considering it a long-term solution to the challenges faced by liveaboard operators.
The association pointed out that, despite being in business for 50 years, there is currently no specialised harbour for liveaboard operations and mentioned their previous attempts to address this issue with past governments, which yielded no results.
