EPA slaps MVR 20 million fine on aground tugboat
The survey was conducted in conjunction with surveyors appointed by the owners of the vessels.
By
Aminath Shifleen
The 'AM Adve' tugboat, which ran aground the Dhiyaneru reef in Kaafu atoll in September, has been fined over MVR 20 million.
The barge, 'Aaron', which came to Maldives with the tugboat, also ran aground. The vessels were refloated the next day but a survey was conducted within the same week to determine the damage the boats caused to the reef.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in a statement on Wednesday:
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When the area was surveyed, 804 square metres of the reef area where the tugboat ran aground was severely damaged
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There was no damage to the area where the barge ran aground
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The survey was conducted in conjunction with surveyors appointed by the owners of the vessels
The Middle East Marine LLC, the owner of the tugboat, was fined more than MVR 20 million on Monday as compensation for the damage to the reef, the EPA said. The money has been ordered to be paid within the next month, the agency said.
EPA has previously imposed fines of the highest amount in some cases for damage caused by barge capsizes or wrecks during work on various projects. Once, the EPA imposed a fine of MVR 100 million on a barge that was carrying rocks and sand, for running aground a reef and then hightailing.
