Regulation to provide offshore port services to be published in the gazette soon

A regulation on providing offshore port services to cargo vessels transiting through Maldivian waters has been assembled and sent to be published in the government gazette.

Abdul Rasheed Nafiz, the Chairman of Maldives Transport Authority told Sun tonight that about 1000 to 2000 cargo vessels are authorized and pass through the Maldivian waters daily. He said that they have thus far not been able to provide the numerous services they require due to certain types of bureaucracies, and that the newly assembled regulation will facilitate to provide these services.

Nafiz noted that these vessels required water, fuel, and medical services to name a few, and that the new regulation will facilitate for these services to be provided without customs clearance, but with minimum authorization.

He said that the regulation also consists of a portion relating to regulating off-shore services in the Maldives, but did not provide details on the matter.

the Transport Authority Chairman said that regulation also stipulates certain bunkering zones off Haa Alif Uligamu to the north of Maldives, east of Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi, east of the capital Male’, and also an area off Gan in Addu atoll.

Nafiz said that announcements will be made seek interesting parties to provide bunkering services, and that he hopes that this will prove to be a new opportunity to increase government revenue.

During one of his visits to the north, President Dr. Mohamed Waheed had announced that new revenue generating investments will soon be established in the north.