PCG to check damage to Tubbataha Reef after US warship grounding

From GMA News (Jan 18): PCG to check damage to Tubbataha Reef after US warship grounding

The Philippine Coast Guard will send a team to Tubbataha Reef to check for a possible oil spill and damage to the coral reef there, after a United States Navy minesweeper ran aground in the area earlier this week. Coast guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said the team will include divers who will check on the damage to the coral reef, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported Friday. Balilo was quoted in the report as saying the Coast Guard may also ask for an explanation from the US ship's crew on the circumstances that led to the incident.

On Thursday, the US Navy said the USS Guardian, its mine countermeasures ship, ran aground at Tubbataha Reef at 2:25 a.m. Jan. 17 while transiting the Sulu Sea. "The Avenger-class ship had just completed a port call in Subic Bay, Olongapo City and was en route to her next port of call when the grounding occurred," the US Navy said. It added the ship got stuck on the reef, and the crew is working "to determine the best method of safely extracting the ship." An earlier US Navy report said no one was reported hurt in the incident.

The US Navy said the USS Guardian, forward-deployed to Sasebo in Japan, was commissioned on Dec. 16, 1989. It has a crew of about 80.

Possible damage to reef

An earlier effort to check the condition of the area where the warship has been stuck were hampered by the refusal of US Navy personnel to allow park rangers to inspect the place.

In expressing concern, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park supervisor Angelique Songco said, "An attempt [by park rangers to board the Navy ship] after identifying themselves was not entertained. They were told instead that the US embassy will negotiate with Tubbataha and that another US navy boat will be arriving."

"There is environmental damage here. Our rangers need to assess the coral damage but they cannot even go near the site," Songco added.

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a 97,030-hectare World Heritage Site consisting of two coral atolls that harbor a wide range of marine species including large marine life such as manta rays, sharks, and turtles.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/290868/news/nation/pcg-to-check-damage-to-tubbataha-reef-after-us-warship-grounding