Phl team to finalize probe on USS Guardian grounding

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Maritime Casualty Investigation Team (MCIT) is set to finalize its separate safety of navigation inquiry on the grounding of the USS Guardian on the Tubbataha Reefs following the second and final meeting with US Navy investigators in the US Naval Base in Yokusuka, Japan.

A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs said the six-member MCIT received addtional documents from the US Navy investigators.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is undertaking its separate safety of navigation inquiry on the grounding of the  warship USS Guardian. The documents from the US Navy are expected to augment the data and other information of the PCG.

The safety inquiry aims to establish the cause of the grounding of the USS Guardian, a minesweeper, on the north side of the South Shoal of the Tubbataha Reefs on January 17, 2013. The inquiry also seeks to identify new measures that may be undertaken by the Philippines and the US to prevent such grounding from happening again on the Tubbataha Reefs.

The US Navy officials informed the MCIT that the final report on their investigation of the grounding of the USS Guardian will be released soon.

Reef experts assessed that the grounding of the ship caused damage  to an area that spans 2,345.67 square meters. Republic Act 10067 or the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act imposes a  mandatory fine of about $600 or P24,000 per square meter of damaged reef. Further park rule violations increased the total fine to about $60 million or some $1.4 million.