US Navy ship did not heed warnings

Rangers of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park radioed the USS Guardian to warn it was nearing the protected area early Thursday morning, January 17, but the ship captain ignored them. Marine park superintendent Angelique Songco said the captain insisted they complain with the US embassy instead. Shortly after the warning, the vessel ran aground on part of the reef, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As such, it is supposed to be off-limits to navigation. Earlier, the US Navy apologized for damage that might have been caused by the grounding of the ship. In a statement, US Pacific Fleet commander Vice Admiral Scott Swift said, “As a protector of the sea and a sailor myself, I greatly regret any damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef.” It is one of world’s best dive sites and is home to a diverse marine life. Government investigators have yet to assess the damage caused by the USS Guardian, which is still awaiting extrication.

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A related story on how the US naval vessel could have caused more damage is on Rappler.

A related story on the USS Guardian’s running aground on January 17 is also on Rappler.