US ship to arrive Friday to aid stranded vessel

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications on Thursday said a large US vessel is set to arrive tomorrow, Jan. 25, to help pull out the US Navy minesweeper that ran aground in Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea.

In a press briefing on site, DOTC Undersecretary Eduardo Oban Jr. said on-scene US commander Admiral Thomas Carney confirmed that USNS Salvor, a large US vessel that will aid in the salvage of USS Guardian will be deployed to the site.

Part of the salvage plan is to use a crane with high lifting capacity to lift the stranded ship instead of dragging it that would cause more damage to the corals.

The crane is expected to arrive at the site on Jan. 30,  2013.

The PCG inspection team estimated that about 1,000 square meters of corals have been severely damaged due to the incident.

Meanwhile, DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya said the Philippine Coast Guard continues to work with the US Navy, the Philippine Navy and other environmentalist groups to remove the stranded US Navy minesweeper.

In a report to Abaya, PCG Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena said there is no oil leakage despite the damage to the wooden hull and propeller of the USS Guardian. Its fuel tanks also appear to be intact.

Unlike the steel-hulled minesweepers of World War II, the new minesweepers were built mostly of wood with bronze and stainless steel fittings to minimize their magnetic signature.

The PCG and US Navy are also monitoring the exact location of the USS Guardian. The waves hitting Tubbataha reefs especially in the afternoon are very rough owing to the north easterly winds. 

The PCG report added that the US Navy is now conducting assessment of hazardous materials on board the USS Guardian to ensure nothing will spill within the area that would further damage the corals.

The report added that the US Navy is assessing the damage to the USS Guardian including implementing risk management and conducting hydrographic survey.