Missing landing craft located, all onboard in good condition

Mariya 3, the landing craft that went missing with six people onboard has been located.

According to Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Mariya 3 was located 130 nautical miles north east of Isdhoo island of Laamu atoll on Saturday night. The ship was located by Indian navy ship ‘Kirch’, which had conducted a search and rescue operation in the area. MNDF had revealed India was assisting in the operation.

It said that officers of the MNDF Coast Guard were onboard the Indian navy ship as well.

MNDF said that all six people onboard were safe and ‘in good condition’, and that the ship had drifted after the ramp on its front ‘dropped’.

It further said that the ship’s engine and other systems ‘are functional, except for the dropped ramp and its systems’, adding that Coast Guard officers were working to fix it.

“But all systems related to the ramp are severely damaged”, added MNDF.

While the ship was last contacted at around 9:30 am on May 17, it was reported missing at around 4:16 pm on Thursday. The ship had departed from Thulusdhoo of Kaafu atoll, and was headed to Laamu atoll.

MNDF had confirmed that there were six people onboard the container ship; two Maldivians and four expatriates whose nationalities have not been specified.

The two Maldivians onboard are, the ship’s captain Adam Naeem and his wife Zuleikha Usman, both from Villufushi island of Thaa atoll.

On Friday, MNDF said that during the search operation rescue officers, who were patrolling the air aboard a Trans Maldivian Airways flight, had sighted an oil slick and some debris, about 50 nautical miles north-east of Isdhoo island.