The Maldives Shipping Company (MSS) has signed an agreement to purchase a container ship to provide transshipment services to connect southernmost Addu City with the world's commercial ports.
The agreement to purchase the MSS Opal, a 3.2-metre draft vessel with a length of 67 meters and a capacity of 105 containers, was signed on Thursday. The ship, which can also carry cement, boasts a deadweight capacity of 1553 tonnes.
The vessel, which is equipped with its own crane, will be used to transport goods from international markets to Addu City, with a stopover in Male' for transshipment. The vessel will also be used to transport containerized goods purchased in Male' to Addu City.
MSS's Managing Director, Captain Mohamed Nazim, said as the vessel is equipped with a crane, the difficulties faced by Addu City harbor due to the lack of a crane will be eliminated during the operation.
"This operation will not only solve the difficulties in the transportation of goods and create a reliable supplier to transport the goods regularly, but it will also restrain the price of this service in the market. In addition, during bad weather periods, the difficulties in supplying staple items to the southern islands will be eliminated, and food security will be enhanced,” Nazim said.
Nazim further said when all the administrative arrangements are completed, the ship will be available for booking to facilitate cargo transport from any global location to Addu City through MSS. The vessel is slated to depart for Addu City every ten days, making stops at Male, Hithadhoo, and Kooddoo.
The acquisition of the MSS Opal marks the fifth vessel in the company's fleet since its inception in 2020.
