Male' City Council calls for compensation and full safety audit after tanker crash

In the wake of Thursday night’s tanker collision with a pillar of the Sinamale' Bridge, the Male' City Council has called for compensation and pressed the government to ensure the bridge’s structural safety.

The incident occurred when two tankers lost control amid bad weather and were swept away by strong currents near Male'. Shipping officials said the vessels had been detained for entering Maldivian waters without permission.

The tankers crashed into one of the pillars of the Sinamale' Bridge as waves carried them under the structure and beyond, before one of the vessels sank around 30 nautical miles outside Maldivian waters.

According to the City Council, the two vessels, MTKG 1 and AL 1, had been in Customs custody since May 3, after illegally entering Maldivian waters on April 26. The Council said the vessels had run aground on the eastern reef of Male' and later struck the pillar of the Sinamale' Bridge.

މާލޭގެ ފަރަށާއި ސިނަމާލެ ބްރިޖަށް ލިބުނު ގެއްލުމުގެ ބަދަލު ހޯދައި އިހުމާލުވި ފަރާތްތައް ތަޙުޤީޤުކުރުމަށް މާލެ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލުން ގޮވާލައިފި https://t.co/AuDZ22EAYw pic.twitter.com/7FCce9YIF3

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) September 13, 2026

The Council said no government agency has yet provided adequate information to the public regarding the incident.

“The City Council is extremely concerned about the information circulating on social media about these two vessels, which is being reported as a result of the failure of relevant state institutions to fulfill their legal responsibilities in maintaining the maritime area of the Maldives,” the Council said.

The Council noted that under the Decentralization Act, it is legally responsible for protecting and maintaining the environment, lagoons, marine resources, and municipal infrastructure within its jurisdiction. It therefore called on relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the city’s maritime area.

The Council outlined three key actions:

1. Investigate institutional negligence: Conduct an independent public inquiry into how the vessels entered Maldivian waters, how the anchor failed, and how the collision occurred while the vessels were in Customs custody, and identify those responsible.  

2. Compensation for environmental and bridge damage: Assess lagoon damage through the Environmental Regulatory Authority and seek financial compensation for damage caused to the bridge.  

3. Structural assessment of the Sinamale' Bridge: Conduct an engineering audit to confirm whether the collision caused damage to the main pillars or platform of the bridge.

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib said the Second Harbour Engineering Company had inspected the bridge and found no structural damage, only minor scratches. He said a vessel going out of control in the Male' area could endanger the bridge, Velana International Airport, and other vital facilities, adding that the government is working to increase capacity to prevent such incidents.

Male' City Mayor Adam Azim has also expressed concern over the issue.

On Saturday, the opposition MDP likewise expressed concern over the government’s conclusion that the bridge had not sustained structural damage.