MPL to Reduce Free Storage Time for Goods at Male' Commercial Harbor to Tackle Overcrowding

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) CEO Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim has announced a reduction in the free storage period for goods at the Male' Commercial Harbor, aiming to alleviate overcrowding and encourage faster clearance of goods.

Businesses currently have a 10-day free storage window after their containers arrive at the harbor. However, with over 5,000 containers currently stored—far exceeding the harbor's capacity of 2,000—MPL plans to shorten this period to five days. The storage period for reefer containers, which hold perishable goods, will be reduced to seven days.

Wajeeh highlighted that space constraints have led to ships waiting for extended periods to unload their cargo. The new measures are intended to speed up the clearance process and improve operational efficiency at the port.

In addition, the government is developing a new area for the commercial harbor at Thilafushi. This project involves reclaiming 100 hectares of land, of which 20 hectares have already been reclaimed by the previous administration for MPL use. The reclaimed land will be allocated for harbor services, with plans to reclaim an additional 80 hectares for future expansion.