Salvage of USS Guardian to be completed by March 23- PCG

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 12): Salvage of USS Guardian to be completed by March 23- PCG

Barring equipment failure or adversely inclement weather, the salvage operation for the grounded USS Guardian (MCM-5) will be completed by March 23, the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesperson, this is was stressed by the US Navy salvage team who will be removing the grounded minesweeper off Tubbataha Reef, in Sulu Sea.

"In their latest salvage proposal submitted to us, they are looking at finishing the salvage works by March 23. Of course, this timeline will only hold if everything works out to plan," he added.

In the same proposal, the US Navy said the pipelay vessel, the Gibraltarian-flagged "Jascon 25", will act as the primary vessel in the salvage operation with the Singaporean-based crane ship "Smit Borneo" acting only as support.

"Salvage teams will live aboard the 'Jascon 25' while the work is ongoing. The 'Smit Borneo' will only be a support ship in the project," Balilo added.  "Jascon 25" is expected to arrive at Tubbataha Reef 9 p.m. on Feb. 15.

The PCG spokesperson said cutting operations, depending on the weather, will quickly commence after that.  Salvage teams will first cut into manageable sections the topside area of the minesweeper which includes its bridge, funnels and masts before dismantling areas below the waterline.

Chopped off areas will be then be hoisted by the crane ships.  The USS Guardian ran aground off Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17 in still unknown circumstances.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=496627