Dhidhdhoo’s ‘Mega Hoara’ refloated after 10 hours

Individuals who assisted with the situation have reported that ‘Mega Hoara’, a vessel from HA. Dhidhdhoo, which ran aground last night while traveling with 61 passengers aboard and goods valued in millions of Maldivian Rufiyaa, has been refloated.

‘Mega Hoara’, the largest vessel from Dhidhdhoo which accommodates both cargo and passengers, ran aground around 23:00pm last night at Vavathi Kurolhi – a reef which is a popular dive site near Holhudhoo in Noonu Atoll.

The boat ran aground while en route to Dhidhdhoo from Male’, with a large sum of goods aboard.

Three boats from Dhidhdhoo and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) had been engaged in efforts to refloat the boat since last night.

A person who assisted in refloating efforts told Sun that the boat wrecked only a small part of the reef, adding that the boat was refloated at approximately 9:30am this morning.

“The boat had no damage when dived and checked. Hence, it has resumed its journey to Dhidhdhoo. The weather is very good. Mild seas. Everything has worked out well,” the person told Sun at 9:36am this morning.

Before the boat was refloated, goods on the vessel were shifted to a cargo boat through efforts undertaken last night and this morning.

Despite wrecking on the reef, the boat had not tilted. As such, passengers and the crew remained aboard during refloating efforts. The person who spoke with Sun confirmed that they were all in good health.

Sun has learned it took seven years to build ‘Mega Hoara’, which was commissioned in September of last year.