President Muizzu deploys world’s largest dredger to speed up Rasmale' reclamation

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced the deployment of one of the world’s largest dredgers to accelerate land reclamation for the Rasmale' smart eco-city project in the Fushidhiggaru lagoon.  

In a post on X, the President said the Cristobal Colon, a trailer suction hopper dredger operated by Jan De Nul, began reclamation works on Sunday. He stated that the vessel’s arrival would “triple up the speed of creation of land” for Rasmale', which he described as the Maldives’ largest climate adaptation project.  

“One of the two world’s largest Trailer Suction Hopper Dredgers ‘Cristobal Colon’ of Jan De Nul started reclamation works today to triple up the speed of creation of land for the 100 percent net zero carbon, smart eco-city ‘Rasmale'’: the largest climate adaptation project to be carried out in the Maldives,” the President posted.  

One of the two world's largest Trailer Suction Hopper Dredgers
"Cristóbal Colón" of Jan De Nul started reclamation works today to triple up the speed of creation of land for the 100% net zero carbon, smart eco-city "Rasmale": the largest climate adaptation project to be carried… pic.twitter.com/FKqfYSB7X6

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) December 1, 2025

He also shared a timeline of the milestone:  

• Mobilized to Rasmale': November 30  

• First load: December 1

• 05:00hrs: Dredging started  

• 11:41hrs: Discharging started  

The President said sand laying began early Monday afternoon and reiterated that Rasmale' will be developed as a 100 percent net-zero carbon, smart eco-city.  

The Rasmale' project, launched on December 18, 2023, is the largest construction initiative of the current administration and aims to deliver 65,000 housing units. The first 15,000 units have already been awarded to a Chinese company.  

During an inspection on November 12, the President’s Office reported that Site-J had been fully dredged, while Site-L was 25.53 percent complete and Site-C 20.09 percent complete.  

The President acknowledged public criticism over delays, noting that the original eight-month completion target had not been met. He said the pace of work has now been significantly accelerated.