Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has announced plans to clear 150 containers per day, except Fridays, during the month of Ramadan. On half-operational days, the clearance target will be 100 containers.

At a press conference, Head of Port Operations Ilyas Mohamed stated that priority will be given to perishables and general cargo to ensure timely distribution, as has been the practice in previous years.

Ilyas acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by space constraints at the MPL port, which make unloading goods difficult. To address this, MPL plans to transfer empty containers to Thilafushi over the next two months. Additionally, the construction of a container terminal has been contracted to MTCC.

He noted that storage capacity has improved over the past year. “At the start of last year, we had space for 3,000 containers. Now, we can accommodate around 5,100 containers. We were actively working to expand the available space,” he said. However, he also mentioned that despite this expansion, the capacity remains insufficient to handle the growing volume of imports.

MPL has also enhanced its operations by increasing the number of vessels that can be unloaded simultaneously. Previously, general cargo was unloaded from two vessels at a time, but now three vessels can be handled simultaneously. To support these efforts, nineteen additional staff members have been appointed.

To further facilitate the import of food products, highly perishable goods will be stored in the godown, and a temporary tent has been set up in Hulhumale’ for added convenience.