‘Oil tankers cast adrift and wrecked on bridge entered Maldives illegally’

Industry officials have confirmed to Sun that the two large oil tankers that were cast adrift, leading to one of them crashing into a pillar of the Sinamalé Bridge last night, had previously been seized for entering Maldivian waters without authorization.

The incident occurred after the vessels reportedly lost control amid severe weather and rough sea conditions.

Footage circulated on social media showed the two tankers drifting towards Sinamale’ Bridge from the northern side of Malé, near the Carnival area. One of the vessels ultimately crashed into a bridge pillar. The extent of damage to both the bridge and the vessel remains unclear.

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), on Thursday night, stated that its personnel had rescued those aboard the vessels and handed them over to the Maldives Customs Service. As the vessels remain under Customs' regulatory control, the MNDF said further information would have to be provided by the authority. Despite the seriousness of the incident, the Maldives Customs Service has yet to issue an official statement, while inquiries from Sun have gone unanswered.

Shipping sector officials clarified that the tankers had not entered Maldivian waters to seek refuge from distress. Instead, they were discovered several months ago after entering the country's territorial waters without prior notification or the required clearances. The matter has since been under investigation by Customs, the Transport Authority, and the MNDF.

"These vessels were detained specifically for the illegal entry into Maldivian territory," an official stated.

Sources confirmed to Sun that the vessels were carrying a total of 20 Indian crew members, with nine aboard the 'KG 1' and the remaining 11 on the 'AL 1'. On July 4, the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) appealed for humanitarian assistance, citing shortages of food, water, and fuel. At the time, NUSI warned that the 'KG 1' had lost its anchor, while the anchor on the 'AL 1' was in poor condition, creating a significant risk to the crew and nearby vessels. The union also sought intervention from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Indian High Commission in Maldives.

An official source familiar with the matter told Sun that the crew members are currently under the supervision of Maldives Immigration. Although most of the 20 crew members have already left the country, nine remain in the Maldives, with administrative procedures currently underway for their deportation.