Manila: Taiwan’s Wisdom Marine will pay P917,000 in compensation for damage to coral reefs by one of its ships passing through the central area of the Philippines.
Of the total, P500,000 will be used to rehabilitate the damaged coral reefs.
The MV Unicorn Logger, the ship that ran aground on the coral reef, and its 18 Vietnamese crewmen, cannot leave Naval, near where the vessel is docked, until compensation payment is made.
The MV Unicorn Logger was towed by the Philippine Coast Guard on June 15 out of the coral reef area having run aground in the top dive tourist area two days prior.
Local environmental groups have said the fine – less than $23,000 – was too small. [20/06/13]
