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In Cozumel News May 22, 2014: Investigating the sinking of the Albatros, Puerta Maya expansion is starting today, and see what is scheduled for The Sacred Mayan Journey that begins today.

Investigating the Albatros Sinking

Por Esto reported this morning that if the vessel “Albatros” Albatros Charters Company is on a barrier reef or damaged any of the reefs, the owners will be penalized as per federal environmental laws.

The vessel “Albatros” is  42 feet (12.8 meters) by 12 feet wide (3.6 meters), registration number 2304022214-7, with Caterpillar diesel engines type 520 horsepower each, is registered in the name of “Albatros Charters, SA de CV”, with a Maritime Safety Certificate valid until October 7, 2014. It sank in the vicinity of Punta Sur, bringing three crew members and two tourists whose nationalities and individual data were not disclosed, except that they were rescued safely.

A little more than 24 hours after the collapse, Christopher Gonzalez Baca, Director of Reef Marine Park Cozumel, said he did not know the cause of the accident and had not spoken to the captain of the vessel Rafael Moo, only to Rita Michell, legal representative of Albatros Charters. She informed him that the boat was submerged between 33 to 35 meters as of Wednesday and confirmed that it was sunk   in waters of the National Park. Boats can be there legally as long as their Marine Park permits are current.

Wednesday morning, Marine Park staff was given the task to snorkel the area where the yacht sank to determine if it is deposited on a barrier reef, examine the impacted area, surface species, and the environmental cost.

If the hull of the boat is above a sandy bank, they also have to verify what actions to take to remove the boat because carelessness could cause subsequent damage to the marine environment. It not only has to be done carefully to avoid affecting the marine environment, but also to make certain that the boat is not going to end up at the bottom of the cliff. It is possible that they are near the reefs Maracaibo, Colombia, & Chunchakab, but it is not known how close. If there are any damages to the reefs themselves, they will file the appropriate criminal charges, but will take into account that it was an accident.

Naval Sector Staff reported that there was no release if oil into the sea. , Alfonso Rodríguez Loaiza, harbormaster, said the Navy Armada de Mexico, cited the “Albatros” is buried in latitude 20 ° 17.3 ‘and longitude 87 ° 01.3’, which was corroborated by the control tower of maritime traffic with the lighthouse Apiqroo in Puerto de Abrigo “Banco Playa” and that the sunken boat does not represent a hazard to navigation.

Sources tell me that the Albatros will be raised today. It is done by carefully placing airbags under the vessel and inflating them. Update: A crew is getting ready to raise the Albatross as I type!  I will keep everyone posted!

 Blue Angel Restaurant

Puerta Maya Expansion

The work begins today on the expansion of Maritime Terminal Puerta Maya, located at kilometer 4.5 of the highway to Chankanaab, where the shipping Cruise Line Carnival will invest just over 20 million dollars.  There will be a symbolic laying of the first foundation stone ceremony this evening in the presence of authorities of the three levels of government.

Puerta Maya in Cozumel, became operational in December 1996, and remained until the month of October 2005, when Hurricane Wilma hit the island of the swallows for about 72 hours with winds above 250 kilometers per hour. The phenomenon caused the collapse of 90 percent of the pier structure and caused major structural damage to the remaining 10 percent. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), through the Secretariat for Environmental Protection Management, authorized the rehabilitation of the  infrastructure, once repaired, has been operating to date .

La Rumba Cozumel

Playa Azul Beach Club

Mayan Journey Starts

Today begins the eighth edition of “Voyage Sangrada Maya”, recalling the journey of Maya to Cozumel, to make offerings to the goddess Ixchel to seek protection and hear her message as every year.

Tonight May 22nd at 5 p.m.  at the Xcaret Park:  An event  will be staged for the eighth time in which an exchange of goods among the artists who will participate in this journey is done. After the stage show, they will  receive purification prior to their departure to Cozumel.

Friday May 23^rd: A group of 350 oarsmen, a total of 192 men including a blind man, and 158 are women; depart from Xcaret Park at six in the morning, on board 33 fiberglass canoes.  They are estimated to arrive at the Chankanaab ecological park in Cozumel   between 2 to 3 in the afternoon, where they will be greeted by a group of 108 artists who continue with the recreation of the arrival of the Maya.

On Friday night in Chankanaab Park, the joy of the “Oracle of Ixchebeyax” (1,500 passes were available for this presentation.) It is estimated that there will be at least two thousand people present for the arrival and departure of the canoes in Cozumel.

The Morning of May 24^th the Recreation of the departure of the Maya will be held at nine in the morning on the beach of Chankanaab Park.  They should arrive back at Xcaret, at approximately one that afternoon.

Buccanos is calling!

Fogo Do Brazil Steakhouse