MNDF: UTF not designed to accommodate large navy ships

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) states that the harbor and the dockyard being developed by the authority in Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF) are not designed to accommodate large military ships.

Commenting on the alleged drawings of the site which has recently gone viral on social media – MNDF confirmed the drawing as one that had been shared with the media during their latest visit to oversee the progress of the project.

As per the drawing, UTF site will replace the 270-meter area in Hulhumale’ presently used to dock larger Coastguard vessels with a 300-meter area. The project also includes a slipway for vessels below 500 tonnes alongside a repair facility.

MNDF said the location was designed to accommodate only MNDF Coastguard’s ships.  

Therefore, they stressed that vessels that are larger than Coastguard’s ship, ‘Hurvaee’ cannot be docked or repaired at the harbor.

MNDF, noting naval fleets of foreign militaries boasted huge vessels exceeding 500 tonnes, said UTF will not have such a capacity.

“As this project is of utmost importance since there is no harbor where the larger vessels of MNDF Coastguard can be docked leading to difficulties in maintenance and repair and will play an important role in increasing the operational capacity of MNDF, we urge to report clear information regarding this, and refrain from reporting false facts,” MNDF said.

UTF project is carried out under a grant assistance from the Indian government. Various false reports regarding the project have been prevalent in the media recently.

The statement from MNDF comes after an attempt by a group of reporters from Dhiyares to access the site.

MNDF said that access to military bases is restricted, and the military is legally obligated to stop attempts to gain unauthorized access to such sites.

It is based on this that an officer ranked sergeant first class involved in maintaining security attempted to stop the reporters, said the MNDF.