A barge carrying construction aggregate from neighbouring India to the Maldives was hastily unloaded at the reclaimed Industrial Village on capital Male’s southwest coast due to a hull breach.

The barge had begun to keel following the breach and was unloaded at the Industrial Village with an excavator on Tuesday.

Mihaaru understands that the barge was carrying 1,500 tonnes of aggregate which were acquired for ongoing projects managed by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) in various islands, including construction of a breakwater at the domestic airport being developed in Thaa atoll Thimarafushi island.

Barges are designed in separate components such that a hull breach in one will not result in flooding of other sections.

It remains unclear how the hull was breached or whether all the aggregate was successfully unloaded.

MTCC is yet to comment on the incident.