MPL Expands Thilafushi Depot Capacity to Ease Port Congestion

Maldives Ports Limited is undertaking an expansion of the empty container depot on Thilafushi industrial island, as part of efforts to address ongoing space constraints at Malé Commercial Harbour and Hulhumalé International Terminal.

The facility, which has been operational since September 2025, currently accommodates up to 1,600 twenty-foot equivalent units. Work is in progress to increase capacity to 3,000 units through land levelling and infrastructure upgrades.

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An empty container depot serves as a key logistics hub, supporting the storage, cleaning, repair and repositioning of shipping containers. The expansion is expected to enhance operational efficiency for shipping lines while reducing congestion at active port terminals.

The initiative is being implemented as an interim measure ahead of the planned relocation of the country’s main commercial port to Thilafushi, a project aimed at modernising maritime infrastructure in the Maldives.

The first phase of the relocation project was awarded in February 2026 to China Harbour Engineering Company for design and survey works. According to MPL, initial surveys of both domestic and international quay walls have already been completed ahead of schedule.