dws-boskalis-maldives-vilufushi-770pxPresident of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, inaugurated a land reclamation project on the island of Meedhoo in Dhaalu atoll on 16 March.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Yameen said he visited the island with a gift for its residents, noting that the people of Meedhoo had been waiting for over 20 years for such development projects. He urged the people of Meedhoo to utilise the reclaimed land for economic and social purposes.

The project has been awarded to the Dutch dredging company Boskalis and includes reclamation of 17.5 hectares of land and set up 485 metres of revetment in Meedhoo.

Boskalis has also been contracted by the government to reclaim land in Baa Eydhafushi, Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo, and Kaafu Thulusdhoo.

dws-boskalis-maldives-signing-muizzu-viersma-350pxSigning of the Four island reclamation contract by housing minister Mohammed Muizzu (left) and Boskalis area director Jaap Viersma (right) on 18 February.

Four island reclamation project
Dhaalu Meedhoo is the first island to commence the reclamation works under the 'Four Island reclamation project', which was signed on the 18th of February 2014 with the contractor Boskalis International.

The project is funded by government of Maldives, costing 37 million USD and the works has to be completed within 540 days.

The contract for the Four Island reclamation project was signed on 18 February by Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Dr.Mohamed Muizzu, Area Director of Boskalis International Mr. Jaap Viersma, Meedhoo MP Ahmed Shiyam, Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir and Senior officials from the Ministry and Boskalis International.

Reconstruct island of Vilufushi
Boskalis has been involved in a reconstruction project in Maldives in 2006. Following the devastating tsunami in December 2004 the government of Maldives decided to reconstruct the island of Vilufushi. Boskalis did a reclamation project (see top photo) that tripled the size of the island and raise it to 1.4 m above mean sea level.

During the dredging and reclamation activities, Boskalis followed strict guidelines to minimize suspended sediments escaping from the working areas and employed mitigating measures such as protective bunds on the reef and suspension basins in the reclamation area when necessary.

This news item is based on presse releases by the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure of Maldives.

More information
Boskalis
Papendrecht, the Netherlands
+31 78 696 9000
www.boskalis.com