Male’, Maldives – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demands MVR 100 million from Navios Amaryllis, the Panama-flagged cargo ship that ran aground on the reef west of K. Rasfari in the early hours of last Thursday morning, if it wishes to depart from Maldives prior to the completion of a damage assessment of the reef.
Giving details of the incident, Deputy Transport Minister, Hamad Abdul Ghanee stated that the ship went aground at the protected reef near Rasfari consequent to being cast adrift in the open water after one of its engines was shut off. He alleged that the incident occurred due to the negligence of the ship’s captain.
The Deputy Transport Minister earlier stated that the cargo ship will only be given permission to leave the Maldives sea after damage assessment is completed.
At present, the vessel has been detained. It will be granted permission to leave the country after the completion of a damage assessment to the reef.
Deputy Transport Minister, Hamad Abdul Ghanee
However, Director General of EPA, Ibrahim Naeem mentioned that after discussions with the investigation committee, the vessel can be granted permission to leave the Maldives sea, prior to the damage assessment, only if the owners are willing to deposit MVR 100 million. This is the highest amount that can be charged as a fine for damages to the environment under the law of Maldives.
Navios Amaryllis was on its route from India’s Tuticorin port to South Africa’s southern port through an innocent passage without any cargo on, before it ran aground on the reef west of K. Rasfari in the early hours of last Thursday morning.
