News
A vessel sailing under the Liberian flag has been fined 100,000 GEL for an incident of pollution in the Black Sea
Employees of the Black Sea Protection Convention Division of the Environmental Supervision Department under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, in cooperation with the Border Police, have identified an incident of pollution in the Black Sea.
A vessel sailing under the flag of Liberia 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 Court found the vessel guilty of an administrative violation 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. In the current year, employees of the Convention Division have already carried out more than 100 vessel inspections. Only seven cases of marine pollution from vessels have been identified.
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.
