US pledges reparations 'beyond required by law' for USS Guardian mishap

From the Manila Bulletin (Mar 27): US pledges reparations 'beyond required by law' for USS Guardian mishap

The United States government will compensate the Philippine government "beyond what is required by law" over the damage that the US Navy vessel caused on the Tubbataha Reefs, according to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

With the looming completion of the salvaging of the USS Guardian, Abaya said the assessment on the total extent of damage in the protected marine sanctuary will soon follow.

"I think the Americans will most likely compensate beyond what is required by law as their way of apologizing for this embarrassing incident," he said.

According to international law, compensation rate is pegged at $300 per square meter of damage.

But the compensation due to the Philippine Government because of the grounding of USS Guardian at the Tubbataha Reef "will take a different course" from the investigation. Abaya said the determination will be in coordination with the Tubbataha Park Management Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

DoTC, through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), will be involved in the investigation of the incidents that led to the grounding of the minesweeper at the Tubbataha Reefs last January 17.

"The arrangement is that our investigation team will fly to Japan to ask particular questions to the US investigating team before their report is finalized. They can also ask further questions to the crew," Abaya said.

The Cabinet official disclosed that the Palace has not given the PCG deadline to complete its investigation.

"If the trip is conducted and we are satisfied, the deadline would no longer be material. What we want to see here is how to avoid a similar incident from happening," he added.

In an interview during the inter-agency inspection of the Pier 12 of North Harbor in Manila last Tuesday, PCG Commandant Rodolfo Isorena said the good weather and sea conditions are speeding up the salvage operations.

"The last lifting of the vessel's hull may be completed by March 29 or 30," Isorena said.

Under the salvage plan, floating cranes will be used to methodically remove the stranded vessel, which will be cut into pieces before being vertically extracted from the site.

The official said the salvage operation was hastened because "the weather and sea conditions have cooperated."

"So far, the salvage operation has been very smooth and successful. Personnel in the site are very careful not to inflict further damage in the reef," he added.

After the completion of the salvage of USS Guardian, Isorena said the PCG will cooperate with the United States Navy to assess the overall damage that the minesweeper has inflicted in the Tubbataha Reef, which is a protected marine sanctuary and renowned as a World Heritage Site.

"After the completion of the salvage operations, there will be a joint assessment on the damage. Then there will be a shift on focus to the formal investigation," he said.

Isorena shared that the United States Embassy in Manila has invited the PCG inquiry team to confer with the US investigating panel in Japan.

"Only when we meet with them will we know how long the investigation will take," he said, adding that there is no deadline for the US-Philippine inquiry teams to finish the investigation and submit their report.

The USS Guardian ran aground in the Tubbataha Reefs last January 17.

Divers from the PCG initially assessed that the incident caused damage to approximately 1,000 square meters of corals.

However, US and Filipino authorities assured that no fuel has leaked since the grounding incident and all of the approximately 15,000 gallons of crude oil from the US Navy vessel have been safely transferred off the ship.

For its part, the US government has earlier apologized for the maritime incident and assured that the Philippine government will be compensated accordingly for the damage on the corrals of the Tubbataha Reef.

Furthermore, the US government has committed to infuse funds, equipment and expertise to ensure the restoration, rehabilitation and the long-term conservation and protection of the Tubbataha Reef.

http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=5278&sid=1&subid=2