Eight Filipino-Americans comprise 10 percent of the 80 crew members of
the USS Guardian ship which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the
Sulu Sea last week, a Philippine news site said.
According to the news site Subic Bay News, USS Guardian's "crew of around 80 officers and enlisted personnel includes eight Filipino-Americans."
"Notably, the ship’s highest ranking enlisted sailor on board is a Filipino-American originally from Olongapo City," the site added.
GMA News Online sought information from the United States Embassy in Manila about the ship's Fil-Am crew but has yet to receive a reply.
The USS Guardian, an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship ran aground the UNESCO world heritage site on January 17 after canceling a scheduled fuel stop to Puerto Princesa City, an earlier press statement of the embassy said.
Before this, the ship was at Subic Bay for a one-day port call.
No one was injured during the grounding of the Guardian but the reefs and the ship sustained damage.
The 97,030-hectare Tubbataha Reef, a natural park, is considered to be one of the best dive sites in the world.
Weather conditions have forced the crew of the Guardian evacuate the ship and take refuge in support vessels until the ship is dislodged from the reef.
The US Embassy's Press and Information Officer Tina Malone earlier told GMA News Online via e-mail that the "safety of the Guardian’s crew and preventing harm to the environment are the US Navy’s top priorities."
USS Guardian
According to the American Navy website, the USS Guardian (MCM-5) is the fifth Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures ship to join the US Navy's fleet.
"Her mission is to counter the threat to our forces and our allies from all types of naval mines," the site said.
The ship represents "the most capable mine counter measures platform ever constructed, capable of mine detection, mine neutralization and mine clearance in strategic US and foreign ports and key ocean areas in order to maintain vital commercial shipping lanes," the navy website said.
One of 14 Avenger Class ships, the USS Guardian was commissioned on December 16, 1989.
The ship is equipped with sonar system and a mine neutralization robot.
The Guardian is 224 feet long and 39 feet wide. It has a displacement of 1,300 tons and has a maximum speed is around 14 knots.
US Navy to be fined
Meanwhile, the Stars and Stripes news website said Philippine government officials will be fining the US Navy for the damage dealt to the marine heritage site.
The Philippine Naval Forces, along with the Coast Guard, are also investigating the incident and the fine will be charged against the US Navy has yet to be disclosed.
Park superintendent Angelique Songco said “We don’t know yet how much damage has been done. We can only wait till they leave before we take a look at the area.”
After the full extent of the damages has been measured, park officials will be serving the proper fines including any additional fines for other environmental violations of the US Navy.
On the other hand, US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Scott Swift, in a statement issued on Sunday, expressed his regret over the incident on behalf of the navy.
“As a protector of the sea and a Sailor myself, I greatly regret any damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef,” Swift said.
“Its protection is vital, and we take seriously our obligations to protect and preserve the maritime environment,” he added.
Badly damaged
The USS Guardian itself has been badly damaged as some water flooded the ship after its grounding.
The ship's hull was punctured by the reefs which left several holes according to Rear Admiral Thomas Carney who was assigned to lead the recovery efforts of the Guardian.
There is still no definite timetable for the dislodging of the ship because Amihan winds caused strong waves, preventing underwater inspections on the site.
Currently, removal of the Guardian through a crane ship is thought to be the more viable option as opposed to dividing the ship in pieces to transport it. - VVP, GMA News
According to the news site Subic Bay News, USS Guardian's "crew of around 80 officers and enlisted personnel includes eight Filipino-Americans."
"Notably, the ship’s highest ranking enlisted sailor on board is a Filipino-American originally from Olongapo City," the site added.
GMA News Online sought information from the United States Embassy in Manila about the ship's Fil-Am crew but has yet to receive a reply.
The USS Guardian, an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship ran aground the UNESCO world heritage site on January 17 after canceling a scheduled fuel stop to Puerto Princesa City, an earlier press statement of the embassy said.
Before this, the ship was at Subic Bay for a one-day port call.
No one was injured during the grounding of the Guardian but the reefs and the ship sustained damage.
The 97,030-hectare Tubbataha Reef, a natural park, is considered to be one of the best dive sites in the world.
Weather conditions have forced the crew of the Guardian evacuate the ship and take refuge in support vessels until the ship is dislodged from the reef.
The US Embassy's Press and Information Officer Tina Malone earlier told GMA News Online via e-mail that the "safety of the Guardian’s crew and preventing harm to the environment are the US Navy’s top priorities."
USS Guardian
According to the American Navy website, the USS Guardian (MCM-5) is the fifth Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures ship to join the US Navy's fleet.
"Her mission is to counter the threat to our forces and our allies from all types of naval mines," the site said.
The ship represents "the most capable mine counter measures platform ever constructed, capable of mine detection, mine neutralization and mine clearance in strategic US and foreign ports and key ocean areas in order to maintain vital commercial shipping lanes," the navy website said.
One of 14 Avenger Class ships, the USS Guardian was commissioned on December 16, 1989.
The ship is equipped with sonar system and a mine neutralization robot.
The Guardian is 224 feet long and 39 feet wide. It has a displacement of 1,300 tons and has a maximum speed is around 14 knots.
US Navy to be fined
Meanwhile, the Stars and Stripes news website said Philippine government officials will be fining the US Navy for the damage dealt to the marine heritage site.
The Philippine Naval Forces, along with the Coast Guard, are also investigating the incident and the fine will be charged against the US Navy has yet to be disclosed.
Park superintendent Angelique Songco said “We don’t know yet how much damage has been done. We can only wait till they leave before we take a look at the area.”
After the full extent of the damages has been measured, park officials will be serving the proper fines including any additional fines for other environmental violations of the US Navy.
On the other hand, US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Scott Swift, in a statement issued on Sunday, expressed his regret over the incident on behalf of the navy.
“As a protector of the sea and a Sailor myself, I greatly regret any damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef,” Swift said.
“Its protection is vital, and we take seriously our obligations to protect and preserve the maritime environment,” he added.
Badly damaged
The USS Guardian itself has been badly damaged as some water flooded the ship after its grounding.
The ship's hull was punctured by the reefs which left several holes according to Rear Admiral Thomas Carney who was assigned to lead the recovery efforts of the Guardian.
There is still no definite timetable for the dislodging of the ship because Amihan winds caused strong waves, preventing underwater inspections on the site.
Currently, removal of the Guardian through a crane ship is thought to be the more viable option as opposed to dividing the ship in pieces to transport it. - VVP, GMA News
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