Jamaican cargo runs aground off the coast of Belize City

At this hour, a joint investigation is ongoing after a Jamaican registered cargo vessel, the MV Paranga, ran aground off the coast of Belize City this morning. The three hundred and thirty foot ship was transporting agricultural products to Kingston, Jamaica when between eight-forty-five and nine-fifteen a.m., it grounded in three meters of water southeast of English Caye. The vessel was carrying two hundred and fourteen tons of fuel onboard.  The Belize Port Authority’s Maritime Communication Center intercepted a call between the Master of the Paranga and the marine pilot, who had disembarked the vessel, to inquire about the situation. The Port Authority says that when it was informed of the grounding, they immediately deployed a team of officers to investigate. Initial reports indicate that the vessel’s hull and structure are intact and no leakage has been detected. The vessel also carried a crew of thirteen members, all of whom were unharmed. While the BPA is investigating the circumstances and cause of the incident, the Department of the Environment has sent out technicians to conduct an assessment of possible damage to the patch reef area that was hit. The Belize National Coast Guard has also been informed of the incident and was invited to participate in the investigation.