In August 2011, the Tropic Sun, a 400-foot container ship owned by Tropical Shipping Company, ran aground in the Wreck of the Rhone National Park.

Although the historic shipwreck in the popular dive site was undamaged, Tropical Shipping took full responsibility for the incident and entered into a deed of settlement with the National Parks Trust to pay $125,000 for damages to the reef, according to court documents.

“By entering into this deed, it is the intent of the parties that this shall be a full and final resolution of any and all claims asserted,” the deed states.

The payment is broken up into two amounts — $75,000 and $45,000 — to be paid 45 days after the signing of the deed.

Cayman-based company

Tropical Shipping and Construction Company Limited is a Cayman Islands-based company that operates facilities in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada.

National Parks Trust Director Joseph Smith-Abbott said in July that the trust was pleased to see the repairs happening in the national park site. His agency monitored the work, he said, adding that Tropical Shipping’s owner accepted full responsibility for the grounding from the beginning.

“They didn’t shy away at all,” said Chris Haycraft, managing director of Island Shipping and Trading, Tropical Shipping’s agent in the Virgin Islands. “They had a salvage crew on the scene; they were present throughout.”

Mr. Haycraft said he wasn’t aware of the deed of settlement, and suggested the agreement was reached through the head office and insurance companies. A request for comment sent to the company’s vice president, Jorge Martinez III, who signed the deed, was not returned as of the Beacon’s press deadline yesterday.

Park repairs

Following the grounding, the park was closed for two days until the Tropic Sun could be removed from the area on Aug. 31, 2011.

The following month, Greg Challenger, a marine biologist with the Seattle-based Polaris Applied Sciences, led a team that assessed damages to the site. Repairs began on June 26.

Mr. Challenger and another Polaris marine scientist, Andy Graham, alongside divers from Husky Salvage and Towing and the NPT, began a difficult process: rebuilding the reef and removing all traces of the grounding.

“We’re striving to make sure the park is restored to its former state,” Mr. Smith-Abbott said of the project.

Both Conservation and Fisheries and the Virgin Island Shipping Registry have jurisdiction over the incident. Around the time of the incident, Shipping Registry officials said there would be an investigation.

Contacted yesterday, VISR Director John Samuel declined to comment on the progress of an investigation.

“I can’t discuss that with you,” Mr. Samuel said.