Boat which ran aground while exiting Kulhudhuffushi refloated

The boat transporting cases of water bottles, which ran aground while exiting Kulhudhuffushi City late Sunday afternoon, has been refloated.

‘DML Express 5’, a boat from HA. Kelaa, carrying some 500 cases of water bottles, ran aground due to an engine halt while exiting Kulhudhuffushi City at approximately 15:30pm late Sunday afternoon.

Speaking with Sun on Sunday, Kulhudhuffushi councilor Ibrahim Ahmed said the boat ran aground west of the city’s Mohamed Kaleyfaanu harbor. Ibrahim Ahmed said the boat was carrying some 500 cases of water bottles at the time it ran aground and had four crew members aboard.

"I was informed that the boat had been experiencing engine issues, which is why it docked at Kulhudhuffushi today. It was loaded with about 500 cases of water earlier today, and we can still see it from here," Ibrahim said.

Citing the owner of the boat, a crew member said the boat refloated on Monday, adding the boat was refloated with assistance from Maldives Ports Limited, Maldives National Defense Force, Maldives Police Service, Kulhudhuffushi Council and the public.