MTCC dredger unable to reclaim Maafinolhu lagoon

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company’s new dredger Mahaa Jarraaf has been taken to Thaa Atoll after failing to reclaim land for the Maafinolhu airport project, local media reported.

The huge vessel was unable to do the work because it had to be anchored some distance away from the island, according to Mihaaru, and the suction pipe could not be connected because of strong currents.

Maafinolhu is an uninhabited island that lies inside the same lagoon as Hoarafushi.

An  additional 17.2 hectares is meant to be reclaimed to add to the 12 hectare island, according to an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Mahaa Jarraaf has been used to reclaim lagoons and mangroves for airport projects in Haa Dhaal Kulhudhuffushi and Shaviyani Funadhoo.

The dredger was built by a Dutch  company and was transported to the Maldives from China last October.

After keeping the vessel near Maafinolhu for more than a month it was taken to reclaim land in Thaa Atoll Guraidhoo on 20 August, Mihaaru  reported.

Photo shows the Mahaa Jarraaf at Kulhudhuffushi.