Some vessels running between Minbya and Sittwe in Rakhine State are stopped temporarily for maintenance and they will be run within days as travellers are facing difficulty, sources said.

The vessels based in Minbya and left for Sittwe in the morning. They arrived back at Minbya in the evening. Travellers from Myebon are also ridden on the vessels to go to Sittwe.

Soe Moe Lin, Administrative Manager of Malikha vessel said, “We stopped the running of our ship due to maintenance. We will run it after the ship engine is being repaired.”

Residents from Minbya, Myebon and Pauktaw in northern Rakhine State are heavily depended on maritime routes to travel and some are daily trips.

“It is convenience for the travellers if only two vessels left for Sittwe daily. Now only one vessel is running and it is difficult for us to travel,” said a local.