The trailing suction hopper dredger ‘Leiv Eiriksson’ has arrived in the Maldives and is ready to carry out the dredging and reclamation work of Hulhumalé Phase II.
This mega hopper with a capacity of 46,000 m³ arrived in the Maldives on January 10th. But before the vessel could begin operations, the Leiv Eiriksson was anchored in the Hulhumalé area waiting for the customs formalities to be completed.
Few days later, on January 15th 2015, Hulhumalé Phase II was official inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, at an ceremony in Raalhugandu, Malé.
It is estimated that the $50 million worth Hulhumalé Phase II reclamation and coastal protection works will be completed by the end of December 2015.
Hulhumalé
In mid 1990s, the idea of creating an artificial island from an existing lagoon and transforming it into a futuristic urban city which would accommodate the excessive population of the central region was born.
The Phase I of Hulhumalé reclamation, consisting of 188 hectares, began on 16th October 1997 and was completed by June 2002. At the end of 2013, Hulhumalé Phase I has reached a population of 30,000, which is the halfway mark of the target population of 60,000.
The Phase II of the Hulhumalé project, consisting of 240 hectares, is targeting a total population of 100,000.
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Dredging Today Staff