India has handed over a high-speed ferry to the Maldives, the island nation's first such vessel. The ferry will be used to start new transport services linking key atolls, namely Faafu and Dhaalu. An atoll is a ring-shaped chain of coral islands, and the Maldives is made up of many such groups spread across the Indian Ocean, so reliable sea links are vital for its people. The gift reflects India's development partnership with the Maldives and its broader outreach to neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean region.