While efforts are ongoing to refloat the tugboat grounded north of Hulhumale' reef since last month, the public has expressed concerns over potential damages to the reef.
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has said that the tug boat which ran aground on Hulhumale' reef last month has yet to be refloated.
The tugboat and barge transporting granite ran aground north of the reef in Hulhumale' Phase 2 on February 21.
Director-General of EPA Ibrahim Naeem stated that although the barge has been successfully refloated, efforts to refloat the tugboat are still underway.
"The vessel's crew is working to refloat it[tug boat]. the exact duration that it will take to refloat the tugboat cannot be determined," he said.
When asked about the ownership of the vessel, Naeem said that he would address such inquiries through email correspondence.
Images of the vessel have circulated on social media, prompting concerns from the public regarding the damage caused to the reef.
ހުޅުމާލެ ދެވަނަ ފިޔަވަހީގެ އުތުރު ފަރާތު ފަރައް ޓަގު އަރާފަތަ؟ ނޫނީ އަރުވާލާފަތަ؟ @EPAMaldives @hdcmaldives pic.twitter.com/ItFCiOzXsx
— Dopamine🎈❓ (@GraveBone) February 22, 2024
In 2022, a research vessel had ran aground and was considerably damaged while conducting surveys on the east coast of Hulhumale'. It was surveying a submarine cable laid in the Maldives by Reliance Jio, one of India's largest companies.
While the company was imposed a fine of MVR 200,000, this payment is yet to be settled.
Many foreign vessels have capsized in different parts of the country and have been fined millions of Maldivian Rufiyaa. However, only a handful of them pay the imposed penalty.
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