US Navy salvage operations in Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef continues

SULU SEA, Philippines (March 7, 2013) — The U.S. Navy contracted vessel M/V Jascon 25 and contracted salvors, along with Sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE, remove the aft section of the superstructure of the mine countermeasures ship Ex-Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine authorities to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects.  

Photo by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anderson Bomjardim

SULU SEA, Philippines (March 8, 2013) — The mine countermeasures ship Ex-Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine authorities to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects. Photo by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anderson Bomjardim

SULU SEA, Philippines (Mar. 8, 2013) — The U.S. Navy contracted crane vessel M/V Jascon 25 removes a segment of the superstructure from the mine countermeasure ship Ex-Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17. The U.S. Navy and contracted salvage teams continue damage assessments and the removal of equipment and parts to prepare the grounded ship to be safely dismantled and removed from Tubbataha Reef. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine authorities to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects.  Photo by U.S. Navy  Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelby Sanders/Released)

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands —  EFFORTS at dismantling a 224-foot U.S. Navy minesweeper from a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Philippines continue.

LT David A. Levy, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet told Variety Friday [March 8], “The USS Guardian salvage efforts are continuing as the weather and sea states have been cooperative.”

The USS Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17 while transiting the Sulu Sea.

With the failure of the first salvage ship to anchor, the U.S. Navy salvage plan required the use of a second crane ship — Jascon 25 — with a higher lifting capacity than Smit Borneo, the first crane ship.

The salvage plan is making progress.

Levy said, “U.S. Navy contracted vessel M/V Jascon 25 and Smit Borneo salvors, along with sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE removed the upper half of the superstructure off the mine countermeasure ship Ex-Guardian on 2 March.”

He said that salvage experts continue to refine the salvage plan “which is a complex operation.”

“The salvage plan emphasizes safety of personnel and protection of the Tubbataha Reef ecosystem,” said Levy.

Earlier, it was reported that the salvage operations will be anticipated over by March 23.

For Levy, “The timeline for completion will depend on several factors, including the condition of the ship, weather conditions, and sea states.”

He also said that assessments of reef damage will be conducted when the ship has been removed.

The U.S. Navy, he said, is dedicated to responsibly salvage Guardian “in a safe manner while minimizing environmental damage.”

Moreover, the salvage operations initially cost $24.89 million.

The Navy awarded SMIT Salvage out of Singapore a $24,889,904 contract to provide support for emergency response and recovery operations for the USS Guardian.

Final costs relating to the salvage operations have yet to be determined.

The U.S. Navy continues to work with the Philippine government.