Eight vessels aground on reefs still not moved

Eight vessels that ran aground on reefs across the Maldives have still not been moved, said Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today.

According to information provided by the EPA to Mihaaru News under the Right to Information Act, there are eight vessels, including one which ran aground seven years ago.

The vessel in question is the Marindo 1 and SM&2301 barge which ran aground onto the Th. Funaddoo reef on 21st February 2017. Local company BMC Slipway and Salvage Company Pvt Ltd is the local agent for these vessels.

EPA said that the vessel has not been moved despite repeated notices.

Other vessels include

- Sonva Glory (barge) : Ran aground on HA. Innafinolhu on 31st May 2018. BMC Slipway and Salvage Company Pvt Ltd is the local agent for this vessel as well. The vessel has not been moved despite repeated notices.

- High Hsiang: Ran aground on 31st July 2018. No further details were provided and EPA said that they have been unable to locate the owner of the vessel.

- MV Heavy Star: Ran aground on Sh. Nilandhoo reef on 14th September 2020. The vessel is owned by Heavy Maldives Pvt Ltd, and has not been moved despite repeated notices.

- Al Jameel: A foreign vessel that ran aground on GA. Rondaadhoo on 7th October 2022.

- Orchid 55: Ran aground on a reef near Patina Maldives Resort in Kaafu Atoll on 10th October 2022. Owned by Orchid Holdings Pvt Ltd.

- Tianjin (barge) ran aground on Hdh. Kulhudhuffushi reef on 15th July 2024. It is registered on Indian company Oris SS Ltd and the local agent is BMC Slipway and Salvage Company Pvt Ltd is the local agent for the vessel. EPA said the damage sustained by the reef has been investigated and that the company has been notified to remove the barge from there.

- Blue Voyager: Ran aground onto Hulhumalé reef on 10th November, 2024. It is owned by Ocean Elements Pvt Ltd, and the company is in the process of removing the vessel as of 17th November.

EPA does not have the legal authority to move vessels that run aground on Maldivian reefs. Although the owners are legally required to remove the vessels, fines can only be imposed after the vessels have been removed. As such, there is no further action EPA can deploy as long as the vessels remain unmoved. This issue has now been escalated to the Parliament by EPA as well.

EPA's Director General Ibrahim Naeem informed the Parliament Committee on Environment and Climate Change earlier that after vessels are fined, the process is often delayed due to local agents being replaced or vessels being sold to other parties during ongoing negotiations.

Records show that over MVR 825 million has not been received by the state for various environmental violations.