Laamu Atoll ferry halted due to lack of safety measures onboard

A small vessel used as a ferry between Th. and L. atolls has been halted by the people of Fonadhoo, stating that the vessel lacks the necessary safety measures. The small vessel was used because Dhoni Service vessels which normally operate between these atolls are, at the moment, damaged.

Mohamed Nooraddin, who spoke on behalf of L. Fonadhoo, said that the small ferry carrying people from five islands of L. Atoll to Fonadhoo, has been halted this afternoon because there were pregnant women and children onboard, and almost no safety equipment. The small ferry was stopped from leaving with the help of about 100 people. The 30-feet vessel had no safety equipment onboard except life-jackets.

“There was no Safety Certificate on this vessel. As a toilet they had a 20-litre empty paint bucket, with a towel to curtain the area. Men and women had to use this bucket to go to the toilet,” Nooraddin said.

He also said that police will release the vessel later today after checking it for life-jacket requirements.

Nooraddin said that the small vessels started operating between Th. and L. atolls after an interruption of ferry services for five days.

Attempts to contact Dhoni Service with regard to this issue, the company which normally operates ferry services between these atolls, were unsuccessful.