MTCC: Ferries with improved speed, ventilation will be introduced next year

Maldives Transporting and Contracting Company (MTCC) has said that ferries with improved ventilation and speed, for operation between Male’ and Hulhumale’, will be introduced mid-next year.

General Manager of MTCC Ismail Adhuham said this in an interview to Sun Online today.

“The vessels we use were not built for the purpose of operation as ferries. The problems we face now can be solved by designing vessels to be used as ferries. Several such designs have now been finalised,” said Adhuham.

He said that the new ferries introduced next year will not only have improved speed and ventilation, but also increased capacity.

“We will not introduce all the new ferries at once, instead, there will be about a two-month gap between each new ferry. Since they are new designs, we have to obtain feedback to improve them even further,” he said.

He noted the increase in complaints regarding the standard of ferry services, and said that one reason for this is that this service is provided at a loss by MTCC.

He explained that this is because the land given to the company by the government to cover this loss, has not been handed over by the City Council.

Recently, Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) expressed interest in introducing ferry services between Male’ and Hulhumale’. MTCC has declined to comment on this matter.