The Japanese Government has gifted an 82-foot patrol boat to the Maldives Customs Service to improve the oversight and management of the nation’s international ports.

 

The boat was given through Japan’s Economic Cooperation Grant Aid and will be jointly managed by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard alongside the Maldives Customs Service.

 

Training for the vessel's operation took place in Japan and the Maldives, involving 23 Customs officers in the program.

 

The ship was formally transferred by Japan's Ambassador to the Maldives, Ishigami Rumiko, and accepted on behalf of the Maldivian government by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan. The handover ceremony on Thursday was also attended by Customs Commissioner General Fathimath Dhiyana and other senior Customs officials.

 

After the ceremony, Minister Ihusaan, Ambassador Ishigami, and additional delegates visited the ship at the Male' Commercial Harbour, where Customs officials demonstrated its features.