FSM vessel runs aground on Vilimal

A Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM) oil barge has run aground on the reef near Vilimalé.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that the vessel was carrying oil to Vilimalé, and the accident occurred at 11:15 a.m. today.

Information Officer of MNDF Major Adnan Mohamed said that work is ongoing to refloat the vessel, but all efforts in this regard thus far have been unsuccessful.

He said that work is also under way to transport the oil from the vessel to Vilimalé.

Special care is being taken to avoid an oil spill, he added.

State Trading Organisation (STO), FSM’s parent company, was unavailable for a comment at the time of publication.