Gulf Craft, one of the world’s premier boat and yacht manufacturers, is marking 20 years of its operation in the Maldives which has played a pivotal role in developing the marine transportation network of the island nation.

With a strong presence in the country, Gulf Craft is now developing a new production facility dedicated to the manufacturing of vessels for use in the Indian Ocean which will see its operations and production capacity double within 16 months, a company statement said.

Gulf Craft provides almost 80 per cent of the Maldives’s water transportation services which includes public transport, coast guard, emergency & ambulance services, resorts, and leisure boats.

In early 2021 the shipyard was awarded a government contract, through MTCC, to manufacture a fleet of specially designed high-quality speed boats for use across the Integrated National Public Ferry Network. The new speed boats will offer a convenient and efficient transportation system to all administrative islands of the Maldives, with capabilities to transport up to 53 passengers at a time and will connect the capital city to nearby islands.

Gulf Craft’s Chairman, Mohammed Hussein Alshaali, said: “The Government of the Maldives and its people have constantly been a beacon of support since the establishment of our operations without whom this remarkable feat would not be possible. We are grateful to the Maldives for entrusting Gulf Craft with projects that have played a part in the growth of the nation over these 20 years. The Maldives is our first international destination, where we have built in-country competencies by leveraging the opportunities that the country provides for the marine and tourism sector. With the doubling of our production capacity and the new training facility we hope to serve the local community even better through the creation of new job opportunities and in further boosting tourism.”