Civil Court Orders Removal of Barge Stranded on Kulhudhuffushi Reef for Two Years

The Civil Court of the Maldives has ordered the removal of a barge that has been stranded on the reef of HDh. Kulhudhuffushi for two years.

The ruling followed a case filed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which argued that the vessel has caused severe environmental damage to the reef and disrupted air traffic at Kulhudhuffushi Airport. The court directed that the barge and associated debris, including gravel and iron rods, must be removed within 14 days.

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Background

The barge, Tianjian, ran aground on 14 July 2023 while transporting around 6,000 tonnes of gravel to Kulhudhuffushi. Although the gravel was later unloaded, the vessel and debris have remained in place for over 13 months.

The EPA said that repeated requests to clear the site went unanswered, leaving legal action as the only option. The court also noted that the parties responsible failed to respond to the proceedings.

Ownership and Responsibility

According to court documents, the Tianjian is registered in Seychelles under Auris SS Limited, with Rohoffe Private Limited named as its local agent. Responsibility for removing the vessel was later handed to BMC Slipway and Salvage Company, which the court observed had not engaged with the case despite its designated role.

Local authorities, including the Regional Airports Company and the Kulhudhuffushi City Council, have also raised concerns about the long-standing presence of the stranded vessel.

Environmental and Safety Concerns

The EPA has maintained that the barge has inflicted irreversible harm on the reef’s ecosystem and continues to present risks to air traffic operations in the region.

The Civil Court’s order requires the responsible parties to remove the vessel and associated debris within the set timeframe.