No structural damage to Sinamalé Bridge after boat collision, minister says
The two vessels, which were under the custody of Maldives Customs Service, drifted into the bridge during the incident.
Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said the Sinamalé Bridge did not sustain structural damage after a fuel barge and tugboat struck one of its pillars on Thursday night.
The two vessels, which were under the custody of Maldives Customs Service, drifted into the bridge during the incident.
In a post on X on Friday, Muththalib said Second Harbour Engineering Company (SHEC), the Chinese company that built the bridge, had conducted inspections overnight and again during the day.
He said the inspections found no structural damage to the bridge, apart from scratches and other surface marks on its exterior.
Monitoring, inspection and maintenance of the bridge have been assigned to SHEC under grant assistance from the Chinese government. Muththalib said the company would carry out any repairs required following the incident.
The minister also raised concerns about the risks posed by vessels losing control near Malé.
He said an uncontrolled vessel in the area could potentially damage the Sinamalé Bridge, the Thilamalé Bridge, Velana International Airport or other key infrastructure.
Muththalib said such incidents could also affect Malé, where much of the country’s administration is based.
He stressed the importance of taking preventive measures before similar incidents occur and said the government was already working on such arrangements.
According to Muththalib, Maldives Ports Limited is in the process of acquiring two specialised tugboats for use in emergencies involving vessels that lose control.
He said the tugboats are expected to arrive within the next two months.
Once they are available, vessels that begin drifting will be intercepted and secured before they can reach the bridges or other critical infrastructure, he said.
