UPDATE: Salvage operation of USS Guardian reaches 50% accomplishment

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 11): UPDATE: Salvage operation of USS Guardian reaches 50% accomplishment

Task Force Tubbataha (TFT) announced in an update Monday that salvage operation of the grounded USS Guardian on the South Atoll of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) has now accomplished around 50% of its target following the frequency of favorable weather in the area.

Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, head of the TFT and commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Palawan District, said salvage operations have reached half of its target since weather condition in the Tubbataha has been “very favorable” in the past three days.

“We are expecting calm weather in the next three to four days so work will continue on the USS Guardian by the Task Force,” Evangelista said.

On Monday, the salvors led by Jascon 25 have accomplished the clearing of remaining pipes and vents at the funnel base of the USS Guardian; lifted remaining portions of the funnel base section at the port side; and cleared all types of interference at the auxiliary machinery room and main machinery room.

They also worked and prepared all machineries at the AMR and MMR for removal; transferred additional hydraulic power unit to the USS Guardian; and opened the top containers for loading of debris.

The 50% accomplishment, he added, includes the preparation and mobilization of the salvage operation.

Evangelista said that slowly and little by little, all the salvors are taking care of the implementation of the salvage plan which is very difficult as it primarily considers the safety of personnel and the preservation of the reefs in Tubbataha.

Despite the accomplishment, Evangelista said meeting the deadline of uprooting the minesweeper from Tubbataha end of the month or earlier April depends on the condition of the salvors, the USS Guardin as it lays 90 degrees on the South Atoll, and the weather condition.

As of this writing, a spokesperson of the U.S. Navy said initial estimates of the expenses already incurred to implement the salvage operation is more than a million.

The final consideration of costs will only be determined after the USS Guardian is completely off Tubbataha, he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=505949