Contact established with missing fishing vessel

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said Sunday that it has established contact with the fishing vessel that was reported missing on Saturday night.

Citing the skipper, MNDF said all 13 crew members on board the vessel, named “Ajuma” from Hanyameedhoo of Alif Dhaalu Atoll, were in good health. According to the authorities, the vessel is currently 10 miles off Baa Atoll.

MNDF said the vessel lost contact after it cruised out of range of land-based mobile phone networks. The 72-foot vessel began its journey from Rasgatheemu of Raa Atoll on the 12th of this month.