Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) on Tuesday revealed that its barge, which capsized while carrying 3,300 tonnes of construction aggregate to Haa Dhaal atoll Kulhudhuffushi island last Thursday, had been insured.
Towed by the tugboat “Tango 575”, which was also insured according to MTCC, the barge “Kurimagu 7” was carrying aggregate for the development of Kulhudhuffushi’s domestic airport from Tuticorin, India. Two days after departure, the tugboat and barge got caught in a severe storm caused by Cyclone Ockhi, which had originated off the coast of Sri Lanka and swept across the Arabian Sea.
The barge had capsized in the Kanyakumari sea, 152 miles away from Kulhudhuffushi, forcing the tugboat to abandon the former.
There were 11 people on board the tugboat but no one was hurt in the incident. The tugboat has since safely reached Kulhudhuffushi.
MTCC refused to comment on the extent of the damages caused over the loss of the barge and aggregate.
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