Another section of stranded USS Guardian to be lifted March 30 - PCG

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 28): Another section of stranded USS Guardian to be lifted March 30 - PCG

With the cutting and lifting of the bow and "AMR" (Auxiliary Motor Room) sections of the grounded USS Guardian (MCM-5)completed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said that the next major salvage step for US Navy salvors will be the final cutting and lifting of the vessel "MMR" (Main Motor Room) section.

"The next major milestone of the salvage operation is the final cutting and lifting of the 'MMR' planned for March 30," said PCG Palawan District head Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista.

He added that salvage-related activities for Thursday include the continued non-structural hull cuts for the "MMR" and rigging of "MMR" and stern sections for hull lifts. That part of the hull weighs around 200 to 300 tons.

On Wednesday, the "AMR" section of the USS Guardian, weighing around 200 tons, has been successfully cut and lifted around 1: 20 p.m.

"AMR successfully cut and lifted then transferred to barge, S-700 around 1:20 p.m.," he added.

On Tuesday afternoon, the bow of the grounded US minesweeper was lifted around 2:45 p.m.

Evangelista stated that work will continue all Holy Week. The Coast Guard officer added that the US Navy expects all cutting work to be completed by the first week of April and lifting of all cut parts by the second week.

The USS Guardian weighs approximately 1,300 tons. with the lifting of the two sections, only 900 tons of grounded ship is left for salvors to retrieve.

The US warship has been stuck for over two months at Tubbataha Reef and caused damage to the reef, considered a World Heritage Site.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=511396