Plan to remove US ship from Tubbataha approved

Rappler.com

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(UPDATED) The salvaging of the ship is contingent on a joint assessment of the damage to the reef and strict observation of marine park rules

FLOATING CRANE. The SMIT Borneo, on its way to Tubbataha, has been used in other major salvage operations like that of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia in January 2012. Photo from Maritime News

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines – (UPDATED) The task force team led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) formally approved on Wednesday, February 6, the US Navy’s plan to remove the USS Guardian from Tubbataha Reef Natural Park by cutting it into pieces.

PCG Palawan Cmdr Efren Evangelista told Rappler that the plan was approved on the basis of the following:

  • Joint assessment of damage to the reef before and after the salvage operation
  • Park rangers will be allowed on board to monitor the mission to ensure the salvaging procedures are strictly followed
  • Monitoring of the safety net so no marine life can be snared
  • All personnel taking part in the operation must obey the rules and regulations of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, particularly no fishing or collecting coral during and after the salvaging

The draft plan had been generally agreed upon by Tuesday, when the Americans decided to anchor the 2 floating cranes in deep sea rather than close to the reef to prevent further damage to the coral.

It was also given the green light by the Tubbataha Management Office.

According to the step-by-step blueprint, a US Navy salvage vessel will dismantle the USS Guardian into smaller sections, beginning with the mast and smokestack, and these will be lifted off the water with the cranes.

REEFS IN DANGER. Colorful clownfish like this can be spotted on Tubbataha's pristine reefs. Photo by Jiggy Santillan

Turn ship into dive site – WWF

The USS Guardian ran aground on January 17 inside the protected area of the marine park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s best diving destinations.

At least two dive sites will be closed for the 2013 March-June official diving season, as the salvage operation is expected to continue until May or even December.

The salvage operation is expected to cost the US Department of Defense almost $25 million, was questioned by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines.

“Tubbataha’s undersea denizens have for years thrived under general isolation. The presence of an entire flotilla of salvage and support vessels, bearing hundreds of crewmen, will have detrimental impact on the reef, WWF-Philippines spokesman Gregg Yan said.

Yan told Rappler that under park regulations, normally no large ships are ever allowed near the two atolls, but “now are dealing with a tiny armada. Imagine how 8 or more weeks can alter behavioral patterns and reef composition.”

“The faster the composite team gets the job done, the better. However, if it costs far more to extricate the vessel than to clean and prepare her as a wreck, then leaving her there might be an option,” he added. – with reports from Carlos Santamaria/Rappler.com

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