The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation in the Maldives has unveiled significant reforms aimed at elevating the quality of marine vessels produced within the country.

Effective May 12, the ministry has mandated that vessels exceeding 18 meters in length must adhere to designs provided by authorized naval architects. The comprehensive drawings and additional details pertaining to the vessel's construction must receive approval from the ministry.

To facilitate the implementation of these new regulations on vessel construction, the ministry has made available the syllabus for the Carpenter Training Course, Boat Building and Boat Repair Inspectors Course, and Naval Architect Refresher Course on its official website. Interested institutes are invited to submit applications after meeting the specified requirements.

In a bid to regulate vessel construction, the ministry will initiate the registration of carpenters on February 12. It strongly encourages unregistered individuals to complete the required course before November 12 of the following year. After this deadline, all vessels constructed in the Maldives must be registered with the ministry and overseen by a certified carpenter who has successfully completed the training course.

This initiative comes in response to a recent fishing vessel capsizing, prompting the ministry to address a concerning uptick in such incidents. The absence of specific regulations in vessel construction has been highlighted as a contributing factor, with some attributing these accidents to the lack of established guidelines. The ministry's proactive measures aim to enhance safety standards and mitigate risks associated with marine activities in the Maldives.