Barge carrying boulders still aground Funaddoo reef

The barge carrying a shipment of boulders to Th. Thimarafushi by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) is still aground Funaddoo reef after it crashed into it last Tuesday, February 21.

The barge was carrying boulders to build a seawall around the land reclaimed for Thimarafushi airport when it, along with the tugboat, ran aground the reef in the evening.

The crew of the tugboat as well as locals are working on hauling the tugboat and barge off the reef.

A member of the team working on the effort who spoke to “Sun” said they were working on hauling the tugboat off the reef first.

“We are facing major challenges as it ran aground the reef on the futtaru-side (seaward side). But we have made some progress during the low-tide in the morning,” said the man.

He said that none of the boulders had fallen into the sea, and that the team will be working on hauling the barge off the roof as soon as the tugboat is free.

The incident is still likely to damage the reef.

Director-General of Environmental Protection Agency, Ibrahim Naeem spoke to “Sun” and said that the agency was gathering information regarding the incident, and that guilty parties will be fined after the agency conducts its assessment.