NORTHERN SAN PEDRO, Ambergris Caye, Thurs. May 7, 2020– Yesterday afternoon, a Mexican Navy boat that was traveling in northern San Pedro seas from Mahahual to Chetumal (in Mexico), through Belize, ran aground on the reef. The boat was removed with minimal damages to the reef.

Commander Greg Soberanis of the Belize Coast Guard said that a report on the grounding and the damage caused to the reef as a result will be forwarded to the authorities, and the incident is expected to be settled between Belize and Mexico, because Mexico has legal rights to sail in the northern seas of Belize via a treaty signed with Belize, called Innocent Passage.

Commander Soberanis said that when the Mexican vessel entered the channel in northern San Pedro, it was using marker buoys as reference while traveling, but the buoy drifted to the right and settled on the reef, causing the boat to run aground, because the captain of the vessel was misled by the buoy that had drifted to the right of the channel, taking the boat off course and onto the reef.

Agencies who that studied the situation told the Coast Guard that the boat could be removed from the reef with minimal damage to the reef, and no damage to the boat.
The Department of Environment has begun an investigation, and their report will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Feature photo: Mexican Navy Boat aground on the reef