Ferry services in four southern atolls halted for several months

The Councils of four southern atolls have said that the ferry services provided by the government via private companies under the government’s privatisation policy, have been halted for several months.

The atolls in which ferry services have been halted are Ga., Gdh., Fuvahmulah and Addu City.

Ga. Atoll Councillor Abdul Salaam Mohamed said today that Trinus, the company appointed by the former government to provide ferry services to islands in Ga. Atoll, stopped their services on 8 February. He said that complaints are being received from Island Councils and the public due to this.

“Ferry services have been halted completely since 8 February. The Council has been receiving several complaints from the public about this,” Salaam said.

He said that the Atoll Council had requested the company to explain why the ferry service had been stopped, and that the Council has not received any response from the company for its queries in this regard.

He said that the Transport Ministry had been requested on several occasions to solve this problem, but with no positive response.

Ga. Atoll Council Vice President Shaair Hassan said today that several days after the ferry service had been halted, the company, when asked about it, said that the service had to be halted due to the lack of a vessel.

“It has been about two months since the ferry service was halted. The company that was providing the service has informed us that the services had to be halted due to the company not being able to secure a vessel to provide the service,” he said.

He also said that efforts to solve this problem by cooperating with Transport Ministry have not been successful.

Fuvahmulah Atoll Council President Ali Fazad said today that MVK, the company that provided ferry services to the atoll, halted the services over six months ago. He said that MVK had not officially informed the Atoll Council any reason for this.

He said that based on the information received by the Council, the ferry services had to be stopped after the employees of MVK went on strike for not being paid their due wages.

“Our efforts with Transport Ministry to solve this problem have not yet been successful,” he said.

Addu City Council Member Hussain Fahmy said today that ferry services to Addu were also provided by MVK, and that the services have been halted for over one week.

He said that MVK had informed the City Council that it had to halt the services due to financial difficulties.

“All transport services in Addu City have been halted. Ferry services have also been halted for over a week. We have not discussed with Transport Ministry about solving this problem,” Fahmy said.

Protests were held today in Addu City and some other southern atolls against the halted ferry services.

Deputy Director of Transport Ministry Abdullah Shakeeb, when contacted about this problem, said that ferry services to all southern atolls have been halted, and that no details can be given unless requested for in a letter.