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Unloading work suspended
Ongoing strong winds have stalled the unloading of stone material from the 'Melody' at Puerto Morelos. On March 22 the unloading of the cargo was suspended due to the complexity of the maneuvers that the ship represents. The Federal Ministry of the Environment and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) will be in charge of intervening. Report with photo: https://riviera-maya-news.com/unloading-of-cuban-vessel-at-puerto-morelos-stalled-due-to-winds/2023.html
Anchoring bulk carrier damaged coral reefs
The anchor of the “Melody,” carrying 20,000 tons of porphyry rock from Cuba to be used as ballast for Mexico's Mayan Train railways project, has damaged a coral area situated between two protected nature reserves. Divers found that the attempts to anchor the ship had affected several corals that are protected by Mexican law, while the area allowed for anchoring is situated between the Puerto Morelos reefs and the Gran Caribe reserve. The anchor was dropped, probably due to lack of supervision, and fell on top of many sponges, displacing the entire chain by several meters, and as the ship moved, it dragged the chain and began to slowly break off several corals that were on the spot. The problem could have been avoided if the ship management had consulted local experts from Puerto Morales, who could have guided them about where to drop the anchor. Once it was revealed that “Melody” had damaged the corals, it was removed from the affected area and is currently stationed near Cozumel island, now duly assigned by the National Commisiosn of Protected Natural Areas, which has a larger sandbank and has much less (coral) species than the earlier spot. Complaints were being filed over the environmental damage through appropriate channels, seeking to establish if the anchoring had caused damage inside any of the protected natural areas in the region, as several known and protected coral species had been damaged. As of March 19, 2023, the ship was moored in pos. 20° 47.32' N 086° 53.83' W near Puerte Morelos.
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