Maldives State Shipping (MSS) has boosted its fleet with a new container carrier, MSS Opal, to improve trade links in the southern Maldives.
The ship can hold 105 containers and is 67 meters long, with a draft of 3.2 meters. It’s a 1553-tonne vessel with a crane.
‘MSS Transshipment Service’ was launched to tackle costly transportation to the southern region due to the lack of transshipment options, stated Mohamed Nazim, Managing Director of MSS.
MSS Opal will make delivering vital food supplies to the southern atolls easier during the monsoon season. Nazim also pointed out that this service could bring jobs to Addu Atoll and support decentralization.
Currently, MSS Opal will run between Male’ and Addu, and later to GDh. Thinadhoo and Kulhudhiffushi.
Once it arrives in the Maldives and formalities are done, it will be open for booking to transport goods globally to Hithadhoo Regional Port.
Operating on the Male’-Hithadoo-Kooddoo-Male’ route, MSS Opal will sail to Addu Atoll every ten days. Service begins from the first week of September 2023.
