The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has confirmed that the expansion of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) harbour in Hulhumeedhoo, Addu Atoll, is expected to be completed by the end of April. The project, which supports the operations of the MIFCO Addu Fisheries Complex, has reached a pivotal stage, with 90 percent of construction now finalised.
The contract, awarded to MTCC in 2019, placed the harbour’s development at the forefront of national priorities. The existing facility has long impeded the efficient purchasing and offloading of catch, while restricting access for larger vessels. The upgrade is regarded as essential to enhancing the port’s capacity and ensuring smoother operations.
Jawad Ali, site manager for the project, told PSM News that most of the physical labour has already been completed, with final works advancing steadily. “We are currently focused on the pavement works,” Ali said. “The construction of the ramp is proceeding alongside the paving. With 90 percent of the work completed, our expectation is to finish the project and hand it over within two to three months.”
MIFCO officials expect that the completed harbour will significantly streamline export operations. The upgraded infrastructure is designed to facilitate more efficient logistics, both for direct exports and for the transfer of stock to other destinations as required.
The Addu Fisheries Complex, with a storage capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes of fish, has faced persistent bottlenecks in export logistics. To address these challenges, the expansion encompasses extensive engineering works, including dredging of the harbour basin amounting to 471,380 cubic metres and land reclamation covering 1,788 cubic metres. The project also includes the construction of a 97-metre quay wall. The total value of the initiative stands at USD 4.46 million.