News
A vessel sailing under the Panamanian flag has been fined 100,000 GEL for polluting the Black Sea
The staff of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea, under the Department of Environmental Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, together with the Border Police, identified a case of Black Sea pollution.
A vessel flying the flag of Panama polluted the sea with industrial wastewater.
Based on the administrative offence report drawn up by employees of the Environmental Supervision Department and the Border Police, the Poti City Court found the vessel guilty and imposed a fine of 100,000 GEL.
The vessel was allowed to leave Georgia’s territorial waters and continue free navigation only after paying the imposed fine and compensating for the environmental damage.
Protecting the Black Sea remains a priority for the Department of Environmental Supervision. The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea carries out continuous state monitoring to minimize water pollution and to prevent, suppress, and detect illegal fishing activities. Since the beginning of the current year, staff of the Convention Division have carried out inspections of 72 vessels. 7 violations have been identified, including cases of sea pollution from 5 vessels.
Notably, in recent years, pollution incidents caused by oil-containing wastewater from vessels have significantly decreased. This is due, on the one hand, to the strengthened capacity of the Department of Environmental Supervision and the effective work of the Commission, and on the other hand, to increased fines, which serve as a deterrent.
