Yachts and safari vessels operating in the Maldives and people who earn an income from the business have been increasing day by day.
But the biggest complaint of businesses has always been the absence of a special harbor or easy access to services required by their vessels.
To address their concerns, the government has started a project to develop a special harbor for safari vessels at the Kaafu Dhiyaneru lagoon. The project was awarded to Sri Lanka's Capital Marine and Civil Construction (CMCC).
Carried out under Urbanco's supervision, land reclamation needed for the project has now started. Some 24.6 hectares are to be reclaimed under the project, which is to be completed in two phases.
According to the environment impact assessment (EIA) report for the project, four artificial islands will be created through land reclamation, including a marina island and three picnic islands.
Marina island
- Land size - 5.02 hectares
- Depth of reclamation site - 1 to 2 meters
- 200,000 cubic meters of sand needed for the reclamation
The marina island will be developed in the first phase of the project. A service center will also be developed on the island along with the marina.
Fueling services, electricity, water, sanitation and waste management will also be established and 500 vessels could dock at the marina at the same time, according to the government.
It will be the first harbor of its kind developed in the Maldives.
Picnic Island A
- Land size - 1.46 hectares
- Depth of reclamation site - 1 to 2 meters
- 60,000 cubic meters of sand needed for the reclamation
Picnic Island B
- Land size - 3.83 hectares
- Depth of reclamation site - 1 to 2 meters
- 153,000 cubic meters of sand needed for the reclamation
Picnic Island C
- Land size - 2.78 hectares
- Depth of reclamation site - 1 to 2.5 meters
- 110,000 cubic meters of sand needed for the reclamation
All four islands are to be reclaimed at a height of one to six meters above sea level. Sand needed for the reclamation is to be dredged near Kodhdhipparu lagoon and Nakachcha Huraa.
The project's contractor CMCC is presently carrying out several other projects in the country. Together with the Dhiyaneru project, land reclamation for Thilafushi and Hulhumale' phase three was also awarded to the company at a combined cost of MVR 3.9 billion.
