Malé, Maldives – The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the damage cost assessment for the grounding of the Navio Amaryllis cargo ship on the protected Rasfari reef.
EPA has since provided the Greek owners a 20 day period to respond.
The agency has previously stated that the fine for the destruction of the protected Rasfari reef is estimated at MVR 900 million, adding that one hectare of the reef was significantly damaged due to the grounding.
The Deputy Transport Minister, Hamad Abdul Ghanee has previously stated that the grounding occurred due to the negligence of the ship’s captain.
On August 19, cargo ship Navio Amaryllis en route to South Africa from Tuticorin, India, via innocent passage, crashed into the reef of K. Rasfari. The ship, 189.99 meters (623.23 feet) long with a carrying capacity of 58,735 tons, crashed into the reef due to engine failure according to MNDF.
The Rastafari reef is a major tourist attraction in the Maldives known for its natural beauty, is within an environmentally protected region.
