MEXICO CITY, July 30: A North Korean cargo ship damaged nearly an acre of coral reefs off Mexico’s eastern coast when it ran aground two weeks ago, Mexican authorities have said.
The MU DU BONG freighter was heading to the port of Tuxpan when it hit 250 coral reef colonies in the Gulf of Mexico on July 14, the environmental protection prosecutor’s office said yesterday.
One of the habitats included Elkhorn coral, or Acropora palmata, an at-risk reef-building species shaped like elk antlers, the agency said in a statement.
Seven other species were struck by the vessel, including coralline rock on a protected list.
The accident was apparently due to a navigational error by the captain as he guided the ship toward Tuxpan, where the vessel was due to pick up cargo bound for Cuba.
Rescuers removed the 6,500-tonne ship on Saturday, using underwater cameras, buoys and other special equipment.
The environmental prosecutor’s office said the North Korean embassy has pledged to reimburse the costs of the rescue. (AGENCIES)
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