Indian coast guard vessel runs aground on Maldives' resort reef

An Indian Coast Guard vessel ran aground on the reef of Gili Lankanfushi resort in Maldives on Friday and has since been recovered, according to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

It is not yet known when the vessel ran aground. Witnesses told Atoll Times that a large section of the vessel was resting on the resort’s reef.

A witness said an Indian military vessel was involved in the recovery operation, alongside personnel from the MNDF. The witness added that the area was steep, which made recovery operations difficult.

The vessel, identified as ICGS Vajra, had arrived in Maldives on Friday to take part in Exercise Dosti. The MNDF confirmed that the vessel has now been refloated.

In recent years, multiple incidents involving foreign vessels running aground on reefs in Maldives have been reported. Although fines amounting to millions of MVR have been imposed in some cases, the state has received limited compensation. No court cases have been filed in relation to these incidents so far.

Several of the vessels involved in such grounding incidents have been Indian ships.