Bridge subcontractor’s boat stopped with illegally mined sand
The Chinese embassy denied reports that the boat belonged to the bridge contractor.
26 May 2019, 9:00 AM
A boat stopped by the police and coastguard with illegally mined sand on Friday was registered to a subcontractor of the Chinese company that built the Sinamalé bridge.
The vessel belongs to Hunan Oubo Technology, police clarified Saturday after the Chinese embassy in Malé denied reports that attributed the boat’s ownership to the CCCC Second Harbour Engineering, the company that built the country’s first overwater bridge between the capital Malé and the airport island.
Videos and photos posted on social media Friday showed the boat loaded with sand outside the island of Hithadhoo in Laamu atoll. It was transporting the sand to a resort under development in the neighbouring Huvadhu atoll, according to police.
The videos prompted the environment minister to ask police to determine whether the boat had a permit to transport the sand.
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