The Malé City Council today called for an investigation and action regarding the negligence of state authorities in the incident where two large vessels drifted near Malé and collided with the Sinamalé Bridge.
The two vessels, moored between Dhoonidhoo and Malé, drifted away after their anchors snapped during a strong squall. The vessels first drifted and ran aground on the reef of Malé outside the Carnival area. Significant damage was caused to Malé's reef in that incident.
Subsequently, the two vessels drifted and collided with the superstructure of the Sinamalé Bridge. The bridge collision is believed to have involved an iron-made antenna and a navigation light from one of the vessels. Passing under the bridge, the vessel was ultimately drifted to the southern side of Malé.
Those two vessels were two vessels that entered the Maldives' territory illegally and were under Customs custody. While the crew members of the vessels were in distress, they have now travelled abroad.
In a statement issued by the City Council tonight, it stated that this incident occurred because state institutions failed to fulfill their legal responsibilities. It also stated that questions have been raised regarding the safety of Malé's maritime territory.
The council called for a public inquiry to investigate how the two vessels entered the Maldives, and the incident where their anchors snapped, ran aground on the reef, and collided with the bridge while under Customs custody.
The City Council also called for the damage to the reef to be investigated through the Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) and for compensation for the damage to be sought. Additionally, it called for an engineers' audit to be conducted to assess the damage to the bridge.
Workers of China Communications Construction Company (China Harbour Engineering Company), which maintains the Sinamalé Bridge, inspected the matter. As stated by Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, no structural damage was caused to the bridge. However, he noted that there were some surface scratches.
