A Cuban ship denounced for damaging the Mexican reef with material for the Mayan Train

The diver and environmentalist Alberto Friscione undertook an expedition to dive near the

ship .

The ship carries a load of 20,000 tons of porphyrite (a type of rock) from Cuba and that will serve as ballast for the Mayan Train.

According to Friscione's findings, the vessel would have damaged an important section of protected coral in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo.

The diver and his companion detected damage to corals protected under Mexican law, identifying specimens of brain coral, biscuit coral, a barrel sponge, and many patches with different coral species.

Upon noticing the damage, the videographer has also filed complaints with the corresponding authorities to determine if the ship's anchor caused significant damage to the reserve.

Since the case was made public, Friscione points out that the ship has withdrawn from the affected area.

"The ship moved to an area, now assigned by Conanp (National Commission of Protected Natural Areas) where there is a larger sandbank and there are much fewer species than where she was previously," he said.

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