It has been learned that the crew on the two boats that went adrift last night had been in plight and seeking assistance for several days now, and that the two boats had been sharing a single anchor.
The boat AL1, which has not been officially designated an IMO number, and MT KG1, registered in Togo, entered Maldivian waters on April 26, Mihaaru News reports.
The two boats claimed to have been sailing from Shinas, Oman to Kandla, India. The boats had not informed any relevant authorities but moored near Male' for about a week. They came to the attention of Maldivian authorities on May 3.
Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef confirmed these facts in a press conference held on May 9.
By mid-year, the condition of the boats' crew had deteriorated, reports say. When adverse weather conditions strengthened last July, 11 Indian crew members on AL1 publicized a video appeal on social media sharing that the boat had sustained heavy damage in the rough conditions and asked for help.
In the video, they raised concerns that the boat may go adrift in bad weather due to the heavy damage it had sustained.
The two boats have a total of 20 Indian crew members.
They appealed for help from the governments of Maldives and India and international organizations, stating that they were running out of fuel, clean water and food.
MNDF stated last night that these two boats had been under the control of Maldives Customs Service. Any information regarding the boats can only be given by Customs, MNDF said. They stated that they had only been responsible for rescuing stranded crew members on the boats, who would then be handed over to the care of Customs.
Customs is yet to comment on the incident or the boats involved.
The two boats had been moored between Male' and Dhoonidhoo when adverse weather conditions caused the anchor rode to be damaged, sending the boats adrift at around 10pm. One of the boats first ran aground the Male' reef near the Carnival area. Tides pushed the boat away, and it drifted and hit the Sinamale' Bridge, before moving under the bridge towards south Male'.
Authorities are inspecting the Male' reef and the Sinamale' Bridge to gauge the extent of any damage caused.
