Environmental Protection Agency EPA has slapped a fine of MVR 100 million on a foreign cargo ship that ran aground the protected marine site of Rasfari reef earlier this year.
In a statement, EPA said that it has fined Panama cargo ship Navios Amaryllis under the regulations formed as per the Environment Protection and Preservation Act of the Maldives.
EPA had ordered the ship's local agent Enterec Holding Pvt Ltd to pay the fine within 30 days and had informed the agent on the 25th of this month.
The Agency said that it had worked with National Defense Force MNDF to assess the damage caused by the cargo ship after the ship was floated.
It said that the assessment discovered that an area of 8867 square feet had been damaged due to the incident.
EPA said that the cargo ship has caused damage worth MVR 893,952,569.83 to the protected site but according to the current law only a fine of MVR 100 million can be given to the offender.
However, it said that the Agency is working with the Attorney General's Office to seek compensation for the damages caused by the mega cargo ship.
