The verdict on the Westerhaven cargo ship that crashed into Belize’s
reef two weeks ago is in. 7NEWS is reliably informed this evening that the ports
navigational investigation on the grounding of Wsterhaven is complete. The determination
we are told finds that the ship and its captain Fritz Schroeder were negligent.
That determination activates section 29 of the Environmental Act which would
allow the department of environment to charge the ship’s owner –
3 times the damage.
In this case that’s roughly $30 million multiplied by three which amounts
to $90 million. Of course that is what the law says but more than likely –
a settlement will be worked out with the ship’s owner.
The ship left Belize on Tuesday night January 13th enroute to Guatemala but
on its way out – it crashed into the reef in an area known as Caye Glory.
The captain Fritz Schroeder says the ship was on autopilot when it ran aground.
The ship is registered in the Netherlands.
The Department of Environment and the Fisheries Department are still tallying
the true damage and we are told the Department of Environment is finished with
its assessment. A final figure should be decided upon by Monday.
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