Arrangements made to transport landing craft, passengers to Male’

Arrangements are being made to transport the landing craft “Maria-3” and the six people onboard to Male’ City, reports Maldives National Defense Force.

The landing craft – which went missing – was spotted 130 nautical miles outside of L. Isdhoo by an Indian military aircraft last Saturday night.

MNDF’s media official, Captain Ibrahim Azim reports transport of the landing craft to Male’ City is being assisted by an Indian navy vessel – which’s assistance was offered by Indian government for the search operation.

Azim said the landing craft’s systems, other than the ramp, were all working fine.

The chain holding the ramp in place is broken, making travelling in the desired direction difficult.

Azim said efforts to efforts to resolve the issue and take the ramp up had failed. He said the authorities felt it was dangerous to try to resolve the issue in the rough seas, and had decided to transport the landing craft with the ramp as it is.

Azim said the poor weather was also affecting the speed at which the landing craft is travelling.

He said the landing craft would be transported to Male’ City as soon as the company which owns it arranged a tugboat to tow it, but that he isn’t yet able to provide a specific time in which the landing craft will reach the city.

The landing craft “Maria-3” was reported missing on May 17. Last contact with the landing craft at 9:30 pm on May 16.

It had six people onboard when it went missing; four foreigners and a Maldivian couple from Th. Vilufushi. All are reported to be in safe condition.