The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined the owner of a barge that ran aground near Fuvahmulah.
The barge named the Olympic Kandilo was loaded with aggregate for the Fuvahmulah coastal protection project.
The barge ran aground in the project area while waiting near the entrance to the cargo unloading dock.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began an investigation following the incident in July, but the barge departed without the EPA's authorization.
EPA Director General Ibrahim Naeem told Adhadhu that the barge gave false information before departure.
The case will be reported to police, he added.
"Initially, the owner of the barge said it did not run aground. The barge departed before the matter could be investigated. EPA has now decided to report the matter to the police," Naeem told Adhadhu at the time.
A statement detailing the EPA's decision on the matter said that aggregate from the barge had been found in the reef.
The EPA inspection showed severe damage to 4,306 square meters of the reef where the vessel had grounded in addition to damage caused by the fallen aggregate.
The EPA estimated that it had caused about MVR 162.7 million worth of damages. However, the fine is limited to MVR 100 million under the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act.
The barge registered in Singapore belongs to Afrikaan Pvt Ltd. Its agent in Maldives is Mainland Shipping Pvt Ltd.
