Task Force Tubbataha finalizing US ship's removal plan

MANILA, Philippines - The task group is now finalizing its plan of action to remove the US Navy minesweeper ship that ran aground in Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, the Department of Transportation and Communications said on Friday.

DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya said Task Force Tubbataha continues to work with the US Navy and a salvage company from Singapore regarding the removal of the USS Guardian in the reef.

Abaya said part of the salvage plan is to use a crane with high lifting capacity for the vertical removal of the stranded ship instead of just dragging it to avoid incurring more damage to the reef.

“They (US Navy, Philippine Navy and salvage company from Singapore) continued to secure the top side of the ship, removed all small items and secured other items that were left behind," Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, said in his report to Abaya.
A large US vessel that will aid in the salvage, USNS Salvor, arrived Friday on the site.

SMIT Singapore Pte Ltd’s two vessels, SMIT Cyclone and SMIT Borneo, are expected to arrive on Jan.30.

Isorena added that after a short delay in the start of the operation from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday (January 24) due to erratic weather conditions, salvage operations have finally began.

US Navy personnel started to transfer USS Guardian ordinance and its crew’s personal effects to another US Navy ship, USNS Mustin.

Another ship, Vos Apollo, was able to get into position and conducted partial defueling of the USS Guardian.

The actual flow rate was monitored at 80 GPM (gallon per minute) and expected to defuel three to four forward tanks subject to the condition of the sea and the weather.

Earlier, the PCG Inspection Team assessed that approximately 1,000 square meters of corals have been severely damaged due to the incident.