Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has announced that the difficulties affecting the shipment of containers from Colombo Port in Sri Lanka to the Male Commercial Harbour have now been resolved.

According to MPL, the delays were caused by an increase in the number of vessels arriving in the Maldives and a higher-than-usual volume of containers being transported through Colombo earlier this year. This resulted in congestion at the Male Commercial Harbour and longer cargo clearance times.

MPL said its operational teams have successfully cleared and transported more than 4,000 TEUs that had been awaiting shipment since April. The company added that vessel services between Male and Colombo have now returned to their normal schedules.

MPL noted that a long-term solution to congestion at the Male Commercial Harbour will be achieved through the relocation of port operations to Thilafushi. Work on the project is progressing rapidly, with MTCC currently undertaking the construction of a 100-metre quay wall.

The project is expected to be completed by October, after which cargo clearance services will begin at the Thilafushi site. The area will also be used as a dedicated service quay for MPL vessels.