A barge named "Olympic Kandilo," which ran aground on Fuvahmulah reef and left the country amid an investigation, has been fined MVR 100 million.
The barge was transporting rock boulders for a shore protection project in Fuvahmulah when it ran aground in July while approaching a temporary jetty for unloading materials. Despite the incident, the vessel left the Maldives, claiming it did not run aground, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was conducting an investigation.
According to an EPA study, the accident damaged 4,306 square meters of the reef, with additional harm caused by rock boulders that fell into the water. The EPA stated that the maximum fine under the Environment Act for the vessel owner is MVR 100 million, but the actual damage is assessed to be over MVR 162.7 million.
The local agent for the Singapore-registered vessel, operated under African Pvt Ltd, is Mainland Shipping Pvt Ltd.
Once the appeal process for the fine is completed, the EPA will seek compensation for the damage caused to the reef through the Attorney General's Office.
The government has awarded the Fuvahmulah shore protection project to M.T. Højgaard Maldives Pvt. Ltd in December 2021 for MVR 300 million. The EPA had earlier said that the contractor had also given false information stating that the barge did not run around.
