Both vessels that collided with the Sinamale' Bridge pillars have sunk
12 ސެޕްޓެމްބަރު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 07:54The government has confirmed that the Sinamale' Bridge sustained no significant structural damage after two vessels under the custody of Maldives Customs drifted and collided with one of its pillars during severe weather in Male'. While work is currently underway to repair minor surface damage caused by the impact, both vessels involved in the incident have since foundered and sunk.
Two vessels under the custody of Maldives Customs Service have run aground on a bridge pillar, with both boats now confirmed to have sunk. | raajje tv
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has confirmed that both tugboats involved in the collision with a Sinamale' Bridge pillar have sunk after taking on water.
A fuel barge and a tugboat under the custody of Maldives Customs Service drifted and collided with a pillar of the Sinamale' Bridge during heavy storms that lashed the capital on Thursday night. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed to RaajjeMV that both vessels involved in the collision were under the supervision of Customs at the time of the incident.
Reports indicate that the two vessels drifted away after their anchors broke loose during a severe squall that hit the Male' region.
Providing the latest update on the matter, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated that the two oil tankers, which were in a severely dilapidated condition, took on water and sank on Friday night. The vessels went down approximately 30 nautical miles east of Male' Atoll, outside Maldivian territorial waters.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) reported that nine crew members were rescued on Tuesday night after two vessels docked at Male' harbor drifted under the bridge and out of the atoll.
Regarding the incident, Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib stated that while a drifting tugboat struck a pillar of the Sinamale' Bridge, the structural integrity of the bridge remains intact. He noted, however, that the impact caused minor superficial damage to the exterior surface.
In a post on X, Minister Muththalib stated that engineers from the China Second Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)—the firm that constructed the bridge—conducted inspections of the structure on Thursday night and Friday morning.
Minister Muththalib stated that under the bridge maintenance and repair agreement established with SHEC through Chinese government aid, the company will carry out repairs in accordance with the prescribed standards.
Minister Muththalib stated that an out-of-control vessel in the Male' area poses a significant risk of damaging the Sinamale' Bridge, the bridge connecting Hulhule' and Hulhumale', Velana International Airport, and other critical infrastructure. He warned that such an incident would be a major disaster, profoundly impacting the daily lives of everyone in the Greater Male' region.
