- MPL consulted clearing agents and truck drivers on shifting operations from Malé Commercial Harbour to Thilafushi.
- Participants requested faster customs clearance, sufficient truck staging areas and real-time information sharing to reduce delays.
- The new port will feature a container terminal, cold storage, bonded warehouses and a 24-hour logistics network.
Maldives Ports Limited has sought feedback from clearing agents and cargo truck drivers as it prepares to shift operations from the Malé Commercial Harbour to Thilafushi later this year.
The consultation focused on the day-to-day requirements of two groups central to the movement of imported goods from the port. Participants raised the need for faster customs clearance processes, sufficient truck staging areas and real-time information sharing to reduce delays and turnaround times.
MPL said the discussions are intended to help shape operational arrangements at the new facility, with the aim of making cargo handling and collection more efficient for port users.
The meeting forms part of a wider series of consultations with stakeholders affected by the relocation. MPL has also met government ministries, business owners, shipping agents and freight forwarders as planning continues for the transition.
Moving the commercial harbour to Thilafushi is expected to address capacity and space limitations at the existing Malé facility, while providing infrastructure for higher cargo volumes and a broader range of logistics services.
The planned port will include a container terminal, multi-purpose berths, cold storage for perishable goods, bonded warehouses and a 24-hour logistics network. The project is intended to support more reliable cargo handling and strengthen the country’s trade infrastructure.
The Government has set 11 November 2026 as the date for the commencement of services at the Thilafushi port.
