Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail has stated that the regulations are being changed to start the Ihavandhippolhu Port Project.

The minister made the statement in a written reply to a question raised by Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Saleem. Replying to a question on the commencement of service for the cargo boats passing through Ihavandhippolhu area, the Minister stated that the Ministry has been making several efforts to provide services to the cargo boats passing through Ihavandhippolhu until Ihavandhippolhu Transshipment Harbour is developed.

“The existing rules need to be amended before starting the service. The changes in the rules have been researched and most of the process of amending the rules has already been completed,” the Minister stated. He also gave details of the services to be started soon in Ihavandhippolhu, pointing out that crew change services and bunkering services will be started.

Moreover, Minister stated that STO is in talks with international oil companies to start the bunkering service and is looking for investment to start the service. Adding that a facility should be set up to meet the ISPS standards established by immigration, customs and other regulatory institutions to start serving the cargo boats passing through the Ihavandhippolhu region.

Furthermore, Fayyaz stated the government is also planning to develop a port city at Ihavandhippolhu, so once the port city project is completed, services will be provided for the cargo boats passing through the area as part of the port city project.

In the first phase of the project, a 900-metre Port is to be set up with a target of handling 1.8 million containers annually. The project is estimated to require an investment of $466 million.

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