Maldives Trasport and Contracting Company (MTCC) will be building 65 more vessels to further expand the ferry services provided by the Raajje Transport Link (RTL).
Speaking to state media, MTCC's CEO Adam Azim said the RTL ferry service has already been launched in the northernmost three atolls of the country and said efforts are underway to further expand the service to other zones. In this regard, the building of 65 vessels will be handed over to contractors within the next week, he said.
"The construction of 65 more ferries are now at the signing stage. We expect to sign the agreements in the coming week," Azim said.
The National Ferry System or RTL service was officially launched on June 12. The service was first launched in Haa Dhaalu atoll and later introduced in Haa Alif and Shaviyani atolls.
MTCC is currently using 17 ferries traveling at 30 knots to provide ferry services to the three northernmost atolls in Zone One. The vessels were built in the Maldives by the UAE's Gulf Craft Company.
Azim acknowledged that there were some challenges when the ferry system was first launched. However, many issues have been improved with the experience gained since the service was launched, he said, adding that the company was working to improve the quality of service day by day.
The national ferry system will connect islands across the Maldives by commute link, non-commute link, and highway link.
Commute links are daily trips between nearby islands, while non-commute links are journeys between two islands that are a bit farther apart in distance. This includes non-daily airport trips and business trips. Highway links are long journeys that connect the transport hub of one region to the transport hub of another.
The division of zones under RTL:
Zone One: Ha. | HDh. | Sh.
Zone Two: N. | R. | B. | Lh.
Zone Three: K. | Aa. | ADh. | V.
Zone Four: M. | F. | Dh. | Th. | L.
Zone Five: Ga. | GDh.
Zone Six: Fuvahmulah | Addu City
MTCC has arranged for tickets to be booked and paid under the national ferry system through a portal in the RTL application. Children under three and people with disabilities can ride the ferries free of charge.
The high-speed ferries in MTCC's fleet used in the RTL system have a capacity of 50 passengers and are comfortable for passengers. The ferries have mobile phone charging outlets, toilets, and luggage space. Special arrangements have been made on the ferries for people with special needs.
