US envoy says sorry again for Tubbataha fiasco but still no explanation

MANILA, Philippines -- US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. again conveyed his country’s apologies for the “unfortunate” grounding of a Navy minesweeper on Tubbatah Reef but still offered no explanation for why the USS Guardian was in the marine protected area.

“On behalf of the United States government, I wish to convey to the Philippine government and people my profound regret over the grounding of the USS Guardian on Tubbataha Reef,” Thomas said in a statement on Friday.

“This was an unfortunate accident, and I recognize the legitimate concerns over the damage caused to a unique and precious wonder of nature, internationally recognized for its beauty and biological diversity,” he said.

The Guardian was sailing from Subic Bay to Indonesia, where it was to participate in an exercise, when it ran into the reef, which has been declared a world heritage site, on January 17.

Authorities estimate that the incident has damaged at least 1,000 square meters of corals.

The US Navy earlier said it has decided to lift the vessel off the reef rather than tow or dismantle it to prevent more damage to the corals. Two cranes from Singapore are expected to arrive in the area by the end of the month.

The incident has caused widespread anger, especially after the office managing Tubbataha disclosed that the Guardian’s captain ignored warnings that the ship was heading into the protected area and the ship’s crew went into battle mode and prevented marine park rangers from approaching.

“As the investigation of this matter proceeds, we hope to continue our close coordination with the Philippine government to understand precisely what happened so we can ensure there will be no recurrence,” Thomas said, adding that the US would “work collaboratively with the Philippines to assess the damage and to take steps to address the environmental issues that have arisen from this incident.”

He thanked the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy “for their close cooperation with us.” (with Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com)

source: interaksyon.com

US Navy fined for 'illegal entry' in Tubbataha Reef

MANILA - Philippine authorities said Tuesday they have fined the US Navy for "unauthorized entry" after an American minesweeper went aground on a World Heritage-listed coral reef.

Manila announced the initial penalty amid growing anger in the Philippines over the January 17 stranding of the USS Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef, for which the US Navy has apologized.

A government-led board that manages the reef served formal notice Tuesday initially citing the US Navy for "unauthorized entry", Jose Lorenzo Tan, a member of the board, told AFP.

The site is protected by Philippine law, and is off-limits to navigation except for research or tourism approved by the marine park superintendent.

The law prescribes a maximum penalty of up to a year in prison plus a fine of up to 300,000 pesos (about $7,300) for unauthorized entry, but Tan said the penalty agreed by the board does not include the jail option.

"We initially decided to fine them," said Tan, also the country president of the World Wildlife Fund. He declined to disclose the amount.

A board statement issued by Tan said the US Navy would also be fined for "non-payment of conservation fee" and "obstruction of law enforcement officer".

The Tubbataha marine park superintendent, Angelique Songco, said Monday that park rangers had warned the USS Guardian by radio that it was nearing the reef, but the ship captain insisted they raise their complaint with the US embassy.

Fines for "damages to the reef" and "destroying resources" would be assessed after the vessel is retrieved, the board added.

The US embassy declined comment on the alleged violations.

Tubbataha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Sulu Sea about 130 kilometers (80 miles) off the western island of Palawan.

The commander of the US Navy's 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Scott Swift, apologized for the incident in a statement from Japan on Sunday.

The US Navy said the 68-meter (224-foot) vessel, which remained stranded above the reef Tuesday, had been en route to Indonesia after visiting a Philippine port north of Manila when the accident happened.

source: interaksyon.com

All crew leave US Navy ship stuck in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — All 79 officers and crew of a U.S. Navy minesweeper stuck on a coral reef in the central Philippines have left the ship two days after efforts to free the vessel failed, the Navy said Saturday.

The ship ran aground Thursday while in transit through the Tubbataha National Marine Park, a coral sanctuary in the Sulu Sea, 640 kilometers (400 miles) southwest of Manila. There were no injuries or oil leaks, and Philippine authorities were trying to evaluate damage to the protected coral reef, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet earlier on Friday said 72 of the crew of the USS Guardian were transferred for safety reasons to a military support vessel and a naval survey ship. The Navy said in a statement hours later that all 79 crew members, including the commanding and the executive officers, had left the stricken ship.

The statement quoted 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Scott Swift as saying other ships "remain on scene and essential Guardian sailors will continue conducting survey operations onboard the ship as needed until she is recovered."

He said several support vessels have arrived at the area and "all steps are being taken to minimize environmental effects while ensuring the crew's continued safety."

The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines said that according to an initial visual inspection, the 68-meter- (74-yard-) long, 1,300-ton Guardian damaged at least 10 meters (yards) of the reef. Aerial photographs provided by the Philippine military showed the ship's bow sitting atop corals in shallow turquoise waters. The stern was floating in the deep blue waters. The Navy said the cause of the grounding, which took place about 2 a.m. Thursday, was under investigation.


Angelique Songco, head of the government's Protected Area Management Board, said it was unclear how much of the reef was damaged. She said the government imposes a fine of about $300 per square meter (yard) of damaged coral.

In 2005, the environmental group Greenpeace was fined almost $7,000 after its flagship struck a reef in the same area.

Songco said that park rangers were not allowed to board the ship for inspection and were told to contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Philippine military spokesman Maj. Oliver Banaria said the U.S. Navy did not request assistance from the Philippines.

U.S. Navy ships have stepped up visits to Philippine ports for refueling, rest and recreation, plus joint military exercises as a result of a redeployment of U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Philippines, a U.S. defense treaty ally, has been entangled in a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.

source: philstar.com