The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has reported that the supply vessel “Friend 4,” which capsized and sank approximately 4.1 nautical miles off Gaafu Alif Kudafari, went down in waters reaching a depth of 1,645 meters. The vessel was en route from Laamu Atoll to Huvadhu Atoll carrying a cargo of aggregate and river sand.
During the emergency response and rescue efforts, three individuals—a soldier, a police officer, and the vessel’s captain—went missing. According to the MNDF, the extreme depth of the site renders any attempt to salvage or recover the vessel impossible. Despite extensive search operations conducted by both air and sea across a vast area, neither the three missing persons nor the vessel have been located thus far.
The incident occurred while the crew was attempting to pump out water from the leaking vessel, during which it suddenly lost stability and overturned.
