Boskalis secures €120 million contract to develop Maldives’ Gulhifalhu atoll

Boskalis has acquired a contract from the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of the Republic of the Maldives relating to the further development including climate adaptive measures of Gulhifalhu atoll.

The project concerns the second phase of the expansion of the island of Gulhifalhu for which Boskalis also executed the first phase in recent years.

The development of Gulhifalhu, which is located approximately four kilometres from the capital Malé, is part of a strategic plan to improve and develop the port infrastructure as well as ensure this part of the Maldives is resilient to rising sea levels. For the second phase of the island’s expansion, Boskalis will deploy a large trailing suction hopper dredger to reclaim new land using approximately 18 million cubic metres of sand.

Activities will also include rock revetment work for shoreline protection. To mitigate possible adverse effects, Boskalis is implementing various measures including coral relocation and measures to limit the spreading of sediments in the water in combination with regular monitoring of the water quality.

The contract carries a value of approximately €120 million (US$129.5 million).

Boskalis was also responsible for the successful execution of the first phase of the expansion of Gulhifalhu in 2019 and 2020.