President of the Maldives and Commander-in-Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has today officially inaugurated the new building for the MNDF Coast Guard’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).
Upon his arrival at the MRCC in Villimale this morning for the special ceremony, the President was received with an Arrival Call and presented with a Guard of Honour.
The new MRCC building was constructed under grant assistance from the Government of Japan, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) serving as the project's coordinating partner. The Government of Australia also provided support for the installation of the facility's equipment and operational systems.
The MRCC serves as the national coordination centre for search and rescue operations within the Maldives' maritime and aeronautical search and rescue regions.
Speaking at the event, Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy highlighted the significance of the new facility. Remarks were also delivered by the the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Mrs. Ishigami Rumiko, and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Hao Zang.
During the ceremony, President Dr. Muizzu unveiled the plaque for the new MRCC building, toured the "MRCC Ops Room," and reviewed the center’s operational capabilities and resources. Additionally, the President planted a tree within the MRCC compound to mark the occasion.
The services of the MNDF Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre were initially established in 1998, following the mandate given to the Ministry of Defence to manage and maintain the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) in the Maldives. To expand these operations, a dedicated facility was constructed in Villingili in 2003, officially opening as the "GMDSS Operation Centre" on January 1, 2006. On July 27, 2012, the center was renamed the "Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre" to further strengthen and coordinate maritime search and rescue operations across the nation's waters under a unified command.
The newly inaugurated building marks a major advancement in enhancing capabilities to respond to maritime incidents and assist those in distress within the Maldives’ Search and Rescue Region.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence and National Service, Honorable Hassan Rasheed, the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Ishigami Rumiko; the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Hao Zhang; Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Vice Chief of Defence Force Brigadier General Ahmed Ghiyas, members of the diplomatic corps; Cabinet Ministers; senior Government officials; and senior officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).