President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Dr Mohamed Muizzu has inaugurated the Maldives National Defence Force's (MNDF) new Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) building in Vilimalé.

The new facility is expected to strengthen the country's capacity to coordinate search and rescue operations at sea and in the air. It houses a modern operations room for monitoring maritime and aviation incidents, as well as classrooms and an auditorium to support training and human resource development.

Construction of the building began following the groundbreaking on 23 June 2022 with funding from the Government of Japan. The project was later stalled before work resumed under the current Administration. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) coordinated the project, while the Australian Government provided equipment and other resources for the facility.

Photo: President's Office

The MRCC traces its origins to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), under which an operations centre was established in Vilimalé in January 2006. The centre was renamed the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 27 July 2012 to further strengthen search and rescue operations in Maldivian waters.

MNDF stated that the MRCC has responded to 3,713 incidents over the past decade. Coordinated operations involving the MRCC have helped save 8,359 people, while also protecting vessels and property during maritime emergencies.