Washington — A US Navy minesweeper, the USS Guardian, ran aground in the Sulu Sea off the Philippines on Thursday, and was stuck on a reef, the Navy said.
No one was injured in the incident, which occurred at 2:25 a.m. local time on Tubbataha Reef about 80 miles (130 km) east-southeast of Palawan Island, in the Philippines, the Navy said. There were no reports that any fuel leaked from the vessel.
The ship, with a crew of 80, had just completed a port call at Subic Bay in the Philippines, when the grounding occurred.
File photo of the USS Guardian, a US Navy minesweeper that ran aground in the Tubbataha Reef, a World Heritage Site and popular diving destination in Palawan, early Thursday. The vessel was in Subic Bay on Jan. 13 for a routine fuel stop before sailing to Puerto Princesa City for a brief visit. US Navy
"The crew is currently working to determine the best method of safely extracting the ship," a Navy statement said, adding that the cause of the grounding was under investigation.
Known as one of the world's best dive sites, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a 97,030-hectare World Heritage Site consisting of two coral atolls that harbor a wide range of marine species including large marine life such as manta rays, sharks, and turtles.
In a press release, the US embassy in Manila said the USS Guardian was scheduled to visit Subic Bay last Jan. 13 for a routine fuel stop. After an overnight visit, the vessel would proceed to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan for another brief visit.
The vessel was described as a US Navy Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship assigned to the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet and forward-deployed to Sasebo in Japan. The crew includes eight Filipino-Americans, one of them the ship’s highest ranking Enlisted Sailor who is originally from Olongapo City, the embassy statement said. — Reuters
Known as one of the world's best dive sites, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a 97,030-hectare World Heritage Site consisting of two coral atolls that harbor a wide range of marine species including large marine life such as manta rays, sharks, and turtles.
In a press release, the US embassy in Manila said the USS Guardian was scheduled to visit Subic Bay last Jan. 13 for a routine fuel stop. After an overnight visit, the vessel would proceed to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan for another brief visit.
The vessel was described as a US Navy Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship assigned to the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet and forward-deployed to Sasebo in Japan. The crew includes eight Filipino-Americans, one of them the ship’s highest ranking Enlisted Sailor who is originally from Olongapo City, the embassy statement said. — Reuters
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