Four injured in collision of ferry and speedboat

Four people were injured in accident at sea after a ferry en route from Malé to Hulhumalé collided with a speedboat last night.

Police said the incident was reported at about 9pm. The collision occurred while the ferry was entering the Hulhumalé harbour and the speedboat was leaving, police explained.

Motorcycles on the ferry were also damaged in the accident, police said.

None of the four individuals injured in the accident suffered serious injuries and were treated at the ADK hospital.

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MDP Chair’s company ordered to pay MVR1.3million

The Civil Court has ordered Heavy Load Maldives Pvt Ltd to pay MVR1.3million (US$84,41500) for the failed payment of several speedboats, reports local media.

Heavy Load – owned by the family of Maldivian Democratic Party Chairperson ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik – was ordered to reimburse Maldives Finance Leasing Company Pvt Ltd after the court found it had failed to meet the previously agreed payment schedule.

The unpaid amount – for which Moosa was reported to have been guarantor – is to be paid to the court within three months.

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Two arrested with 16 alcohol bottles in Male’

Two men have been arrested after police received a “tip off” on Sunday (May 12) that they were in possession of 16 bottles of alcohol, reports local media.

The 32 year-old Maldivian and 44 year-old Bangladeshi were arrested around 7:17pm while on a speedboat near the public swimming track in Male’.

The alcohol seized by police included 12 Absolute Vodka bottles, one King Robert vodka bottle, one Russian Standard vodka bottle, and two Irish Jameson whiskey bottles.

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One dead and three injured in boat collision near Holiday Inn resort

One man has died and three others were injured following a high-speed boat accident between a fishing vessel and Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives speedboat on the evening of  April 28.

At approximately 8:00pm a fishing dhoni – from neighbouring island Guraidhoo – entered the resort’s channel and collided with a Kandooma resort recreational speedboat.

The dhoni did not have properly functioning navigation lights, however the speedboat was traveling “very fast”, a source familiar with the incident told Minivan News today (April 29).

“The fishing dhoni was badly damaged and will probably sink, however the speedboat did not appear damaged,” said the source.

During the accident a crew member from the dhoni “fell off the boat and was missing”, police reported.

Two divers and security personnel from Kandooma resort were dispatched following the accident to search for the missing crew member, Ali Abdulla, a 37 year-old from Guraidhoo island in Kaafu Atoll.

The rescue team found Abdulla under water in the Kandooma resort lagoon around 9:15pm, according to police.

“The area is not deep, six or seven meters, however it was very dark. The man was found bleeding from the nose and mouth,” explained the source.

“He also had serious injuries above the neck, behind the head and a small chest injury was also visible.

“The rescue team tried to revive him by performing CPR and giving him oxygen from a scuba cylinder while in transit to Maafushi,” the source added.

Abdulla was taken to the Maafushi Island Health Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Three other individuals sustained injuries, including a hand fracture and other “minor injuries”, said police.

The Maldives marine police are investigating the case.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives General Manager Chris Batterham expressed the resort’s concern about the incident to Minivan News today.

“The health and safety of our guests, employees, and the community in which we live is of the utmost concern. This is a very tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. The resort is assisting the family of the deceased at this difficult time,” said Batterham.

“We are assisting the police with their ongoing investigation and cannot comment further at this time,” he added.

Recent incidents

In February this year an oil tanker and a speedboat on its way to Male’ from One and Only Reethirah Island Resort collided, killing Dhaudh Mohamed, 28, from the island of Kulhudhufushi in Haa Dhaalu Atoll.

According to local newspapers, some of the passengers aboard the speedboat were critically injured and one passenger was reported to have been paralysed.

Newspaper ‘Haveeru’ alleged the captain of the speedboat was asleep when the accident took place. The paper reported that the captain of the speedboat was arrested.

The police reported two separate boat collisions on January 3, 2013, the first of which occurred near the T-Jetty and the second at the airport ferry terminal, both in Male’.

Both collisions involved ferries operated by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which today announced that it would not be reviewing its current operations, instead favouring increased staff training.

In December 2012, a collision between two speedboats left a Finnish tourist dead and nine other people injured.

The collision occurred between an express speedboat service to the island of Hulhumale’ – which is located near to the capital of Male’ – and another vessel belonging to the Bandos Island Resort and Spa property.

The incident led to the temporary suspension of an express speedboat service between Hulhumale’ and Male’ operated by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).

In November 2012, three passengers were injured in a collision at sea between two speedboats near the island of Fonadhoo, located next to the capital Male’.

According to police, a speedboat en route to Club Rannaalhi Resort from the airport collided with a Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) vessel travelling from Male’ to Hulhumale’ around 10:30pm.

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Six injured in accident at sea

Six people sustained varying degrees of injury in an accident at sea between Male’ and Dhoonidhoo at about 9:00pm last night.

According to police, a speedboat from Reethi Rah Resort transporting staff to Male’ collided with a dhoni (traditional boat) carrying cargo from the airport to Thilafushi.

All six injured were traveling on the speedboat, while one person whose injuries were serious was taken to ADK hospital for treatment.

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‘Saima’ in Thilafushi for refurbishment, says MNDF

Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed has filed a case with the Anti-Corruption Commision accusing President Mohamed Nasheed of giving a presidential speedboat to a personal friend, claiming the vessel ‘Saima’ was missing. Several media outlets carried the allegations yesterday.

In response the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) issued a two-paragraph press release today stating that the boat was at Thilafushi for refurbishment.

Media carried Ilham’s allegations that the boat was given to Mohamed Rageeb of Gaadhifushi in Thaa Atoll, and was now in Gaadhifushi being used for business purposes such as ferrying.

Speedboats formerly used by the president’s office were handed over to the MNDF for the official trips of senior government officials.

”When the MNDF received the speed boats from the president’s office, there was no speedboat named ‘Saima’ included,” said the MNDF in a statement. ”As far as the MNDF is concerned the speedboat ‘Saima’ is now at Thilafushi, in hands of Apollo Holdings company for refurbishment.”

The MNDF also published a picture of a speedboat which they said was a picture of the controversial ‘Saima’ boat, taken a day ago while it was in Thilafushi.

Press Secretary for the President Mohamed Zuhair told Minivan News that the allegations were “made up deliberately to smear the respect and dignity of the President.”

”I must say that the opposition’s political actions are going to a desperate level if they are making up false allegations,” said Zuhair. ”Anyone can go and see that the ‘Saima’ boat is in Thilafushi for refurbishment.”

Zuhair said that if there was a similar vessel in Gaadhifushi, it was not the same one.

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