Sea vessels operating in Thinadhoo City must only be beached for repairs after obtaining written permission from the Thinadhoo City Council, the council has announced.
In a public notice issued yesterday, the council stated that any vessel beached without obtaining written permission from the Thinadhoo City Council will face fines, and authorities will take steps to remove such vessels from the area.
The council stated that this notice was required because, despite repeated prior announcements ordering the removal of vessels beached in violation of the "Regulation on Allocating Beaching Plots for Repairing Sea Vessels Used in Thinadhoo City" as well as dilapidated, abandoned land vehicles, compliance has not been met. Furthermore, the council requested owners of vessels currently beached in violation of this rule to submit a formal letter requesting special permission within seven official working days starting today.
The council warned that failure to comply with this directive will result in authorities removing the vessels and property from the area, and the council will accept no responsibility or liability for any damage incurred during their removal.
These actions are being enforced under the Thinadhoo City Council's regulation, published and enacted in the Government Gazette on November 19, 2023 (IUL)415/415/2023/149. Under this regulation, slipway plots (Odivalhuge) are allocated chronologically based on application submission to vessels registered with the Transport Authority. Plot allocations span four categories, ranging from 20' × 15' ft plots to 100' × 50' ft plots, with maximum lease durations between 3 to 6 months.
Land rent for slipway plots is set at MVR 1.00 per square foot per month, payable to the Thinadhoo City Council by the 10th of each month. Payments made after the deadline incur a 25% daily fine surcharge on the daily rental rate. In addition, vessels undergoing repair without prior council permission will only be issued official completion documentation after paying a fine of MVR 5,000 to the Thinadhoo City Council.
Progressive penalties apply for regulatory violations: MVR 1,000 for a first offense, MVR 3,000 for a second offense, and MVR 5,000 plus plot revocation for a third offense. Parties whose plot permits are revoked face a 6-month ban, and permits will only be re-issued once all unpaid rent and outstanding fines are fully settled with the Thinadhoo City Council.
