Working to bring Mariya 3 to Malé, bad weather conditions an obstacle: MNDF

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), who is working to bring the missing landing craft that was located outside of Laamu Atoll to the capital Malé City, has said that bad weather has been an obstacle in their work.

Mariya 3, which was last heard from on May 17, was located 130 nautical miles north east of Isdhoo island of Laamu atoll on Saturday night.

MNDF’s information officer, Captain Ibrahim Azim said that the landing craft is being transferred to Malé with the assistance of Indian navy ship ‘Kirch’. Its aircraft located Mariya 3 on Saturday, during a search and rescue operation conducted via air.

Azim noted that the company who owns the landing craft “is working to send a tug boat” to assist in the work.

He further said that due to the prevailing weather conditions, they are unable to give an exact time on when the landing craft will reach the capital, adding that phone range is very poor in the area where the landing craft currently is.

After revealing that the landing craft had been located on Saturday night, Azim had said that the ship had drifted the ramp on its from “dropped”.

He had said that they were attempting to fix the ramp, but on Sunday revealed that their attempts to fix it had been “unsuccessful”.

Azim further noted that the ship’s engine and other systems “are functional, except for the dropped ramp and its system”.

Mariya 3 was reported missing at around 4:16 pm on Thursday. It was headed to Laamu atoll from Thulusdhoo of Kaafu atoll.

MNDF, who had confirmed that six people had been onboard, have said that all six “are in good condition”.

Two Maldivians were on board, ship’s captain Adam Naeem and his wide Zuleikha Usman from Vilufushi island of Thaa atoll, along with four expatriates whose nationalities have not been specified.