Chinese navy ship starts supplying Mal

Chinese navy vessel Chun Shindao, which anchored at Malé today at dawn, has begun supplying the city with water.

The vessel, which is harbored at Malé Commercial Harbor, would produce 90 tons of water every day, according to the Commanding Officer of the ship. Speaking to the press at the Harbor, he said that the ship came with 600 tons of water, which is now being distributed to Malé.

He also said that the ship is in full operation and that all machinery were made ready and all necessary repairs finished while it was on course to Malé, and that all the men on board are now working on distribution of water to the 150,000 people in Malé, who are facing a water crisis after the only water supply company became incapacitated last Thursday due to a fire accident.

When asked how long the vessel would be in Malé, the Commanding Officer said that it would be here as long as the Maldivian government requires.

“We will adjust our mission, and as long as the Maldivian government and people want us to be here, we will be here”, he said, while speaking to the reporters in the company of the Maldivian Chief of Defence Force and senior officers of his vessel.

The Maldivian Chief of Defence Force had a tour of the vessel after the press brief.

China has also being supplying Malé with bottled drinking water at a time the capital city is in dire need of assistance. All commercial flights operated from China to the Maldives, and Chinese Air Force jets have also being continuously supplying water to the city.