Muthalib: No structural damage to bridge in tanker collision

Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, on Friday, stated that there is no structural damage to Sinamale’ Bridge after a drifting oil tanker wrecked on a bridge pillar last night, but only surface scratches.

The incident took place last night amid severe weather conditions and rough seas, causing the vessels to drift uncontrollably.

Videos circulating on social media show two large vessels drifting near the Carnival area along the northern waterfront of Malé. One of the vessels subsequently lost control and collided with a bridge pillar during a night marked by strong winds and turbulent sea conditions in the Malé region.

In a Facebook post addressing the incident, Minister Muththalib said the Second Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) carried out inspections throughout last night and today to determine whether there was any damage to the bridge.

According to the Minister, the inspections found no structural damage to the bridge, although several surface scratches were detected. He assured that CHEC, which is responsible for maintaining the bridge, would carry out the necessary repairs in accordance with established standards.

The Minister also stressed that drifting vessels in the Malé area represent a serious threat to the two bridges, Velana International Airport, and other critical infrastructure, with the potential to cause significant disruption to life in the region.

He said the government is taking steps to strengthen its capacity to prevent similar incidents. As part of these efforts, Maldives Port Limited (MPL) is acquiring two powerful tugboats capable of intercepting drifting or out-of-control vessels before they can reach the bridge. The tugboats are expected to be delivered within the next two months.

Additionally, Minister Muththalib said regulations governing vessel mooring in the harbor would be reviewed, while emergency communication and response procedures would be developed in coordination with the Coast Guard and other relevant authorities.

While the Minister provided these updates, maritime industry officials identified the vessels involved as two tankers that had previously been detained for unauthorized entry into Maldivian waters. A shipping sector official clarified that the vessels had not entered Maldivian territory due to distress, but were instead discovered several months ago after remaining anchored in Maldivian waters for several days without prior notification or clearance from any authority.

The official further said that the matter was under investigation by Maldives Customs Service, the Transport Authority, and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

Sources have confirmed to Sun that the two vessels were carrying a total of 20 Indian crew members, with nine individuals aboard the vessel "KG 1" and the remaining 11 aboard the vessel "AL 1."