Two Tankers Drift Out of Malé Atoll and Sink After Bridge Collision, says MNDF
The two tankers swept near the carnival area after collding with the Sinamale bridge. | Photo: The Press
Two oil tanker vessels that drifted from Malé Harbour and struck a pillar of the Sinamalé Bridge have sunk about 30 nautical miles outside Maldivian territorial waters, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has said.
The incident occurred on Thursday night after the vessels, which were under the custody of Maldives Customs Service, broke free from their anchors amid severe weather.
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The two vessels drifted beneath the bridge and collided with a main pillar of the Sinamalé Bridge superstructure before continuing out of Malé Atoll.
All nine crew members aboard the two vessels were rescued during the incident, according to the MNDF.
The military said the vessels were heavily aged iron boats and had taken on water as they drifted east of Malé Atoll. They subsequently sank beyond Maldivian territorial waters.
Following the collision, a special inspection was conducted with technical experts from China’s CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company, the contractor involved in the construction of the Sinamalé Bridge.
Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib said the inspection found no structural damage to the bridge.
The Minister said the collision caused minor cosmetic damage, including surface scratches, to the exterior of the bridge pillars.
He added that repair work to the affected areas will be carried out by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
