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Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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OCEANA BELIZE SUPPORTS CALLS FROM CAYE CAULKER RESIDENTS TO REMOVE STRANDED VESSEL FROM REEF

Belize has the second largest Barrier Reef in the world, and may be one of the last countries in the world to have extensive areas of pristine reef. Oceana Belize is working to protect this vulnerable but economically important natural resource for the benefit and enjoyment of Belizeans and her future generations. However, such fragile ecosystems are constantly at risk of being damaged from both natural and man-made threats.

Based on repeated requests from residents and media to Oceana Belize regarding a vessel stranding near Caye Caulker, on Thursday, January 29th 2015, Marine Scientist Dr. Isani Chan led an expedition with Oceana's Videographer Alexander Ellis and Project Assistant Alain Alexis to the site of the incident to conduct an assessment of the damage.

Dr. Chan reports the following:

1. The steel hull sailboat measures approximately 35' in length.
2. The vessel sits in approximately 5' of water in low tide.
3. While the sailboat is currently lodged on coral "rubble", increased wave action could push the vessel into living coral.
4. Residents of the island report that the incident occurred on December 31st 2014.
5. Subsequent efforts for an independent contractor to safely remove the vessel (without causing further damage) from the site have so far proved unsuccessful.

For these reasons, Oceana Belize supports the recommendation that the vessel be removed as soon as possible to avoid any further degradation to the site.

This assessment is independent from any other investigation being carried out by any relevant government agencies.

[Linked Image]

The vessel has been inspected by an independent contractor who can lift the vessel from the sea floor and remove the sailboat from the area. That method will reportedly cost approximately $70K dollars. Precedence indicates the vessel's owner should bear costs associated with removing the sailboat. However, the sailboat is still at the site more than a month after the accident took place.

[Linked Image]

Stranded steel hull sailboat threatens to destroy living reef if not removed from the site.

[Linked Image]

According to residents of Caye Caulker, the sailboat ran aground on December 31st 2014.

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Marty Offline OP
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Good photos in the Ambergris Today


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Owner of sailboat lodged on the reef allowed to leave amidst investigation

According to DOE, at about 7pm on December 30, 2014, personnel from the Department of Environment (DOE) were informed of a vessel grounding that occurred on the Belize Barrier Reef just south of the access channel near Caye Caulker Village. The DOE contacted the relevant agencies, including Belize Fisheries Department and the Belize Port Authority, who responded to the incident in accordance with the National Standard Operating Procedure for Marine Casualties. "During the response to the reported area by the team on 31st December, 2014, the DOE personnel observed a stationary 40-foot, blue and red steel hull sail boat named "Termaji," with Flag State as France. Upon investigations, it was learned that the owner and captain of the vessel, a French National, were attempting to access the channel in front of Caye Caulker Village when the vessel grounded on the reef," stated the press release from the DOE dated February 6th.

According to the release, 100 gallons of diesel was inside the storage tank of the vessel. DOE reported that the diesel was immediately removed to prevent any spill or contamination of the exposed reef crest. "In the implementation of the National Standard Operating Procedure for Marine Casualties, the DOE and other relevant agencies has since made several attempts to remove the vessel from its grounded position, but because of inclement weather, the team had to postpone the removal of the vessel for safety reasons on more than one occasion."

DOE reports that they have since visited the grounding site with two prominent salvage companies established within Belize and were scheduled to commence salvaging operations on January 15th. "Since the commencement of salvaging operations, several uncontrollable setbacks have been experienced that have delayed the removal of the vessel from the reef. However, the vessel has been moved approximately 15-20ft away from its original position into deeper water, where it has been secured to ensure as minimal damage as possible to coral colonies nearby� upon its removal, a damage assessment will be conducted to determine the extent of the damage to the Belize Barrier Reef."

DOE did not release the name of the French sailor and owner of the vessel but confirmed that sailor has left the country. They also did not say under what terms the owner of the vessel was allowed to leave the country prior to an assessment of the damages caused to the reef and how he intends to compensate for damages.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun


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None of the foregoing seems to say anything. Is it just me reading it this way? Ie "we are all concerned. We are thinking about things. Something must be done. Maybe some day."??


A fish and a bird can fall in love, but where will they build their nest?

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The DOE and the Solicitor General's Office have applied to the Supreme Court to cut the steel hull of the French sailboat "Termaji" into smaller pieces, so that it can be safely removed.


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What ever happened with this whole mess?

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Grounded vessel "Termaji" removed from reef

On Thursday, August 28th the sailboat "Termaji" was finally removed from the Belize Barrier Reef. Originally from France, the Termaji had ran aground on a portion of reef just south of the Northern Cut (Caye Caulker Channel) on December 30, 2014, and it was not until several complaints from residents and Oceana Belize that the Department of Environment (DOE) released information on the grounding. But the removal operation did not take place until eight months after the accident and there has been no indication as to who the vessel belongs too.

The 40-foot, blue and red steel hull sail boat was removed by Island Construction Company Limited, who was contracted by the DOE. The operation took about two and a half hours, as the operation was not only to remove the vessel but also salvage as much as possible. Upon removal, the vessel was hauled away to a secure location until DOE can complete its prosecution case against the owner, who will be required to pay compensation for the damages to the reef.

Initial reports indicated that after the grounding, a 100 gallon tank of diesel, which was stored inside the sailboat, was removed to prevent any spill or contamination of the exposed reef crest. The Termaji was then moved approximately 15-20ft away from its original position into deeper water, where it was secured to ensure as minimal damage as possible to coral colonies nearby. DOE also reported that the owner of the vessel, a French National, left the country shortly after the grounding, but remained in contact until around March 2015, when he stopped accepting calls from Belizean authorities.

In order to remove the vessel from the sea, the Government of Belize (GOB) has had to incur all expenses. In addition, the extensive Environmental Damage Assessment made on the grounding area indicates coral reef damage. GOB is now working to bring criminal charges in absentia against the owner of the boat, whereupon he will be required not only to pay for the damages made to the environment, but also all costs incurred during removal efforts.

Click here to read the rest of the article s in the San Pedro Sun


Joined: Sep 2015
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Originally Posted by Marty

Grounded vessel "Termaji" removed from reef [Linked Image]





Thank God!

Last edited by LeeMc; 09/09/15 11:12 PM.

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