Salvaging operation begins at Tubbataha

From the Manila Standard Today (Feb 7): Salvaging operation begins at Tubbataha

The salvaging operation of the USS Guardian at the Tubbataha Reef officially started on Wednesday following the arrival and anchoring at the site of the ship-borne crane Smit Borneo from Singapore. “Yes, we already started the salvaging operation. The ship crane will be anchored 10 meters away from the reef,” said Philippine Coast Guard Palawan District commander Enrico Efren Evangelista.

Evangelista, who also heads Task Force Tubbataha, said they proceeded with the operation after concerned government agencies, including the Tubbataha Protected Areas Management Board, approved the salvage plan presented by Smit Borneo. The board is headed by Palawan Governor Baham Mitra.

Evangelista said that anchoring will take at least a day, before the actual salvaging operation can proceed. He said two anchors will be placed 800 meters deep in front, and the two others will be positioned at the back at 300 meters deep.

Mitra said that “sectioning” the USS Guardian in several parts appeared to be less destructive, although the crane ship has to drop anchor on the protected reef 2,500 feet below the water.

Philippine Coast Guard chief Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena confirmed that the board gave its thumbs-up to the plan.

Isorena said the actual salvaging operation will start on either Sunday or Monday, and may take until April.

He added that the salvaging crew was still waiting for the result of an assessment by the Task Force before the US Navy starts cutting up the ship.

The latest assessment showed that more than 4,000 square meters on the coral reef were destroyed.
The board also requested to have two representatives on board Smit Borneo to observe the operation. It also asked for a joint ecological assessment of the damage after the 224-foot US minesweeper is fully extracted from the reef.

Evangelista said that the board asked the salvage ship to avoid entangling marine life and creatures, like big fishes and sea turtles, if they would use nets during the operation.

The board also asked the captain and crewmembers of Smit Borneo and all those engaged in the operation to abide by the Tubbataha Nature park rules and regulations.

The US government had promised to compensate for the damages on the reef and offered a rehabilitation plan after the ship is completely removed from the reef.

Washington, however, remained silent on questions why its sailors violated Philippine maritime laws and a UNESCO World Heritage Site regulation when the ship intruded into prohibited territory.

Environmentalists and militant groups have called on the government to file charges against the captain and crew of the Guardian who were immediately sent back to their base in Japan after the incident.

The Guardian was sailing for Indonesia from its last port call in Subic Bay in Zambales when it crashed on the on Jan. 17.

Meanwhile, Tubbataha Management Office head Angelique Songco said that the grounding of the USS Guardian in the protected marine park may have adverse effects on its tourism industry.

Songco said that approximately 1,500 tourists were expected to arrive in the marine park this year, which was comparatively lower than last year due to the stranding incident.

Of the eight diving sites in the marine park that are open to tourists, Songco said they are seriously considering closing two since these were the ones directly affected by the grounding incident.
Songco said the TPAMB would stand by its demand to hold the US Navy accountable for the damages caused by the grounding.

Initial cost estimate may reach P100 million for the damages. Songco said this does not cover the cost of restoring the reef and the damages to its other constituencies which extend to water quality and bird and fish life.

The TPAMB has sent to the US Navy a notice of violation, which listed pertinent provisions of Philippine law that the USS Guardian had violated, but said they have not yet received any answer.
Among the violations that the board has listed were unauthorized entry, non-payment of conservation fee, damaging the reef and destroying resources.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/02/07/salvaging-operation-begins-at-tubbataha/