President Mohamed Muizzu has said a new trailing suction hopper dredger, three times larger than MTCC’s existing Mahaa Jarraafu, is expected to arrive in the Maldives by the end of the year to accelerate land reclamation projects.
MTCC’s Mahaa Jarraafu has a hopper capacity of 3,700 cubic metres per load and can dredge up to 11,000 cubic metres within 24 hours. The vessel can operate at depths of up to 50 metres below sea level.
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Speaking on state media, Muizzu said the larger dredger would significantly increase the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company’s (MTCC) operational capacity and accelerate pending reclamation work.
Speaking about the government’s efforts to address coastal erosion, shore protection and island infrastructure, Muizzu said multiple land reclamation agreements had already been established between the government and MTCC.
He said the government’s broader objective was to make MTCC more self-reliant rather than relying primarily on government payments.
As part of the effort, the government is integrating the Road Development Corporation (RDC) into MTCC to streamline road development operations, bringing additional machinery into the company.
Muizzu said the impact of these measures should become visible within the next two to four months, with faster progress expected in road construction, land reclamation, revetment works using large rock boulders, and water and sewerage projects.
He said a large number of projects are targeted for completion throughout 2027.
The Mahaa Jarraafu arrived in the Maldives on October 25, 2017, after completing construction in China. MTCC formally received the vessel on October 1 that year.
The vessel was officially inaugurated by the government on November 12, 2017, and began its first land reclamation project for the development of Kulhudhuffushi Airport.
