The Finance Ministry is seeking parties to build and supply 14 high-speed vessels to establish a public ferry transportation system.
According to the Finance Ministry, on the request of the Planning Ministry, they are seeking a party to build, test and deliver 14 high-speed vessels. Interested parties may submit their expression of interest by 25 of this month.
The ministry said the interested parties must submit relevant documents as a proof of their capability and only shortlisted parties can submit bids.
Speaking at the “Thiladhunmathi Iruvai Conference” held in Hdh. Kulhudhuffushi, Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam said that the biggest project the government intends to implement this year it the establishment of a transportation system and that a plan has been developed for the project.
Minister Aslam said that as a pilot project, it has been planned to implement the transportation system in the three northernmost atolls of the Maldives to assess its sustainability. After six months of the implementation, an evaluation will be done to measure its success and to identify areas that need improvement. When the system is established, high speed launches, each with capacity to accomodate 30 people and can travel at least 30 nautical miles per hour will be providing service.
“We have decided to implement a high-speed ferry service. People do not want to travel in two-engine low-speed ferries. People’s pace is much faster, therefore; we need to provide a speedy service. Our minimum speed will be 30 nautical miles per hour," he said.
